Chasing the Wind...

August 5, 2009

Danielle Joyner Kelley

"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Ephesians 4:26-27.

Whenever someone has a foothold over us, we feel uneasy. We do not want anyone knowing our secrets, or knowing the real meaning behind what we say. Yet our displeasure with a foothold is not half as bad as the fact that nine times out of ten, we gave someone that power over us.

With the power of the human tongue also comes the power of letting others know what gets to us. When we complain, we declare our vulnerability and weakness. If we let others know what gets to us, and later they get angry, they know what to do to get beneath our skin. “And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.” 1 Corinthians 10:10.

When we complain, we not only show our doubt in the position others hold, but doubt in our own position as well. If we are solidified in what we say, we would have no reason to say a word to anyone who stands in disagreement.

God knows our confidence should come from means way beyond ourselves. "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.” Jeremiah 17:7. If we place our confidence anywhere else, and complain outwardly, we should ask ourselves who can really change what the complaint is about. If the person we are complaining to cannot change what we are upset about then we are wasting our breath.

We should not bother to complain in vain. If we take the time to voice a concern we should make sure it is aimed in the right direction. "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector." Matthew 18:15-17.

More often than not, a complaint is followed by a boast about how we would not have done something that way. When this happens, the motive is clear, and it is less about someone else’s mistake than it is about our need to get approval from man. “These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage”. Jude 1:16.

Whenever we speak out loud, it should be done in a manner that can actually bring about change. Talking to someone other than the person you want to change usually accomplishes nothing. However, a nice word to someone who has done something good will usually solidify their actions and help them to continue their work. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29.

Never complain about the bad while failing to praise the good. A kind word carries the good forward, while a complaint is unlikely to bring about change.

Focus on making a difference and work to change only the things that you can. Doing anything less is time spent that accomplishes nothing than to show others that you are chasing the wind.

In a life so short, that is time wasted indeed…