The Whiner’s Corner by Martin Wiles

“Could I really be a 1,” I wondered. And not because number one was actually number one in this scenario. I wanted to be a three. 

I sat in the webinar listening to the speaker describe teachers. One’s, two’s, and three’s. We were categorized. The question was which one. And more importantly, which one did I huddle in. “Three’s,” he said, “rarely whine.” They take each day in stride, love the boss, get along with peers, love students, and embrace change with a smile. Two’s do all of those things most of the time. But the one’s? They do them rarely. They’d rather whine…and complain. All of a sudden, I felt guilty. I wasn’t a one, but some days I didn’t feel like a three either.

Moses dealt with a bunch of one’s. There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron (Exodus 16:2 NLT). As God’s representative leading the Israelites to their Promised Land, he continually heard their complaining. Not enough meat. Insufficient water. Didn’t like the food God provided. Members of the whiner’s corner.

When I step into the complainer’s corner, I express my ingratitude for what God has done in my life in the past and what he’s doing now. I, in essence, say, “God, you’re not doing too good of a job with my life.”

Whining also demonstrates a misunderstanding of how God is going about meeting my needs. I don’t always do an admirable job of distinguishing between my wants and needs—or even of meeting my needs in an adequate manner. God does. His methods might not be the avenues I’d choose, but faith leads me to believe he knows what’s best. 

Are you a member of the whiner’s corner? Or a number 1 slipping toward 0? Why not step into the gratitude circle?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, when we’re tempted to complain, motivate us to rejoice instead.

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