This sermon explores how grumbling and complaining can undermine God's grace and poison the heart, using examples from the Bible and popular culture to illustrate the importance of focusing on gratitude and grace.
There is a movie series from the 1990s that is about two men. I am going to give you a few descriptive words, and I want to see if you can name these movies: complaining, negativity, intolerance, uncompromising, griping, fussing, grumpiness. What movie series has characters known for these "magnetic" characteristics? You guessed it – Grumpy Old Men and Grumpier Old Men.
One of the reasons these movies were well received was because, as Hollywood does well, they allowed us to witness the main characters, Walter Matthau and John Lemmon, get away with exaggerated attitudes and behaviors on the premise of grumpiness. Because these characters were able to express their irritability through comedy, the movies became an audience favorite. However, if we were to practice their words and actions off the screen, we would be far from anyone's favorite.
Because in reality, no one likes to spend time with a complainer – a grumbler - a grumpy old man.
Studies have shown that few things are more detrimental to your health than a bad attitude. Because our attitudes begin with our mindset, if our perspective is stuck in the muck of negativity, our body, behaviors, mental, emotional, and even physical health will begin to take on this posture – a posture of negativity.
Because in reality, no one likes to spend time with a complainer – a grumbler - a grumpy old man.
Ingratitude
Merriam Webster defines ingratitude as "the failure or refusal to acknowledge receipt of something good from another; the forgetfulness of or poor return of kindness."
Ingratitude is the choice not to recognize good or kindness in our life. It is the choice to take on the mindset and the spirit of the Grumpy Old Men. The Bible is full of stories originating from a heart of ingratitude. Many of the most disheartening stories in the Bible begin with a spirit of ingratitude.
We all know the story of Cain killing his brother Able. Both brothers offered a sacrifice to God. Abel's sacrifice was acceptable; Cain's was not. Knowing Cain's sacrifice was given from an ungrateful heart, God rejected his offering. Cain's ungrateful spirit sparked a wave of stewing anger, which convinced Cain that the answer to his wounded pride was not a reflection of his ungrateful sacrifice but the murder of his brother.
King David is another example. David lived a blessed life. The Lord gave him a flourishing kingdom, a successful career as king, a wife who loved him, a healthy family, well-being, and provision. However, the moment his gaze shifted from the goodness and mercies in his life and allowed his heart to follow his eyes as he scanned his neighbor's rooftops, David coveted what he didn’t have. And in his heart, he became ungrateful. In turn, his ungrateful spirit led to a great sin - adultery. Even under the umbrella of his grave repentance and God's forgiveness, the remainder of his reign was stained. His life was scarred by his sin. All because his focus shifted from the Lord's grace (charis) in his life, forgetting all for which he had to be grateful.
I would argue that the slippery slope of their sins originated from the sly sin of ingratitude. Philosopher David Hume wrote, "Of all the crimes that human creatures are capable of committing, the most horrid and unnatural is ingratitude."
Early philosophers understood what today's science has proven - that gratitude is a well-spring of life. It has only been in the past thirty years that gratitude has entered into scientific study. But the study of gratitude has its challenges. To measure a trait proven to be much more than an attitude, but the embodiment of expression, a value, and an emotional and spiritual connection is almost impossible.
Just as the vast science of gratitude is a challenging measure, so is the simplicity of its nemesis – ingratitude. Ingratitude begins in small ways and is often masked by other emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, making the spirit of ungratefulness a challenge to identify. However, though it may be one of the least apparent sins, it drives a costly price.
I want us to examine Israel's attitudes in its earliest days after they exited Egypt.
Grumbling (Exodus 16)
The Initial Grumble (Exodus 16)
Read or retell Exodus 16. Give a brief overview of Israel wandering the desert after having left Egypt.
After forty-five days of travel, Israel's resources began to run dry ... View this full sermon with PRO Premium
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