WEDNESDAY'S WORD - QUERULOUS - 12/5/18 -Sadell Bradley -New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"That some are poorer than others ever was and ever will be: And that many are naturally querulous and envious, is an evil as old as the world."  

- William Petty 

Adding to our vocabulary today. ; ) You might want to slide QUERULOUS into a conversation this week. The person(s) you're addressing might have to look it up later to get it, LOL! QUERULOUS means complaining in a petulant or whining manner. Petulant means childishly sulky or bad-tempered. Whining is a long, high-pitched complaining cry. The Apostle Paul gave a strong command to the church at Philppi:     

Do everything without complaining and arguing so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ's return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.  (Philippians 2:14-16) 

   

Everything, how is that even possible? What makes us prone to whining? In the quote above, querulousness is tied to envy - a feeling of discontent or resentful longing arising from someone else's possessions, qualities or good fortune. The children of Israel are well known for complaining throughout their Exodus. They expressed a longing for the leeks and
onions they were given as slaves in Egypt. (Number 11:5) They griped about being hungry AND about the LORD's provision of Manna and Quail in the wilderness.(Ex.16) They grumbled against God, Moses, and Aaron even when they were about to enter the promised land, ""If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! 3Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?" 4And they said to each other, "We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt." This murmuring sparked God's anger and brought severe consequences:

26The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 27"How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites.28So tell them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: 29In this wilderness your bodies will fall-every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me.30Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 31As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. 32But as for you, your bodies will fall in this wilderness. 33Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. (Numbers 14)

  

We don't believe that our QUERULOUS attitude and speech will bring repercussions, even to our children, but it does. We think we're just sounding off, but a constant diet of negativity repels bosses, spouses and friends... and it disgusts the LORD. I wonder if He asks, "How long will (insert your name here) grumble and complain against Me?"  Are you missing out on God's promises because you're querulous?   

Worship Service Sundays at 10:00 AM through December 31st with the Church of the Living God 434 Forest Ave. Cincinnati OH 45229