Stop Complaining (Philippians 2:14-16)
This sermon delves into Paul's powerful command in Philippians 2:14: "Do all things without grumbling or disputing." It explores the profound reasons behind this seemingly simple instruction, connecting it to our identity, witness, and spiritual accountability.
This sermon calls Christians to cease all grumbling and disputing, explaining three profound reasons: for their own spiritual integrity, to effectively shine God's light to the unsaved world, and to bring eternal joy to their spiritual leaders.
Overview
The sermon opens by focusing on the apostle Paul's simple yet challenging command in Philippians 2:14: "Do all things without grumbling or disputing." It then moves to detail the crucial reasons for this obedience found in the subsequent verses, setting a framework for understanding Christian conduct.
Before delving into the biblical reasons, the preacher contextualizes the command within modern society, describing a "pathology of narcissistic self-indulgence." This cultural self-focus, coupled with disillusionment and an unattainable "plastic perfection" portrayed in media, fuels a pervasive discontent, causing people to complain over trivial matters rather than acknowledging real suffering.
The first reason to stop complaining is for one's own sake, so that believers may "prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach." This means living a life of moral purity, without fault or flaw, consistently representing God's character as His children, and living in anticipation of Christ's return.
The second reason centers on the unsaved: Christians are to appear "as lights in the world holding forth the word of life." Living in a "crooked and perverse generation," believers shine God's light through their blameless character and by proclaiming the gospel, the "word that gives life." A transformed, joyful life provides the credible platform necessary for effective witness.
Key points
- Paul commands believers to do all things without grumbling or disputing (Philippians 2:14).
- Modern society's narcissistic self-indulgence and disillusionment contribute to a pervasive culture of complaint over minor issues.
- The first reason for obedience is for the believer's own sake, to become a blameless and innocent child of God, consistent with their identity.
- The second reason is for the sake of the unsaved, enabling believers to shine as lights in a "crooked and perverse generation."
- Shining as lights involves both character (a godly life) and content (proclaiming the "word of life," or the gospel).
- A joyful, transformed life provides the greatest advertisement for the gospel message.
- The third reason is for the pastor's sake, ensuring their labor is not in vain and bringing them greater eternal joy in the "day of Christ."
In John MacArthur's words
“Every age develops its own peculiar forms of pathology which express in exaggerated form its underlying character structure.”
“Why should any mortal being or anyone offer complaint in view of his sins?”
“Don’t you know who your father is? How can you act like that?”
Outline
- Introduction: The Command to Stop Complaining (Philippians 2:14)
- I. The Prevailing Culture of Complaint
- A. The Pathology of Narcissistic Self-Indulgence
- B. Disillusionment and the Pursuit of Personal Happiness
- C. Frivolous Complaints vs. Genuine Suffering
- D. The Sin of Discontent (Lamentations 3:39)
- II. Reasons for Obeying the Command (Philippians 2:15-16)
- A. For Your Own Sake: To Be a Blameless and Innocent Child of God (v. 15)
- 1. The Process of Becoming Blameless and Innocent
- 2. Manifesting the Character of God
- 3. Living in Light of Christ's Coming (2 Peter 3:14)
- B. For the Sake of the Unsaved: To Shine as Lights in the World (v. 15-16)
- 1. Living in a Crooked and Perverse Generation
- a. "Crooked": Deviated from the standard (Deuteronomy 32:5, Proverbs 2:15, Isaiah 53:6)
- b. "Perverse": Severely twisted and distorted (Luke 9)
- 2. Shining Through Character ("What We Are")
- a. Demonstrating the Light and Life of God
- b. The Quality of Life as the Platform for Testimony
- 3. Shining Through Content ("What We Say")
- a. Holding Forth the "Word of Life" (the Gospel)
- b. The Credibility of a Transformed Life for the Gospel
- C. For the Sake of Your Pastor: To Ensure Their Eternal Joy and Reward (v. 16)
- 1. That Paul May Not Run in Vain
- 2. That Paul May Not Toil in Vain
- 3. The Greatest Joy of a Servant of God (3 John 4)
- Conclusion: A Call to Joyful Obedience (Isaiah 45:9)
Scripture references
- Philippians 2:14-16
- Ephesians 5:1
- Titus 2
- Matthew 10:16
- Romans 16:19
- 2 Corinthians 11
- Ephesians 5
- Numbers 6:14
- Numbers 19:2
- 2 Peter 3:14
- Romans 12
- John 17
- Deuteronomy 32:5
- Proverbs 2:15
- Isaiah 53:6
- Luke 9
- Genesis 1:14
- Genesis 1:16
- Romans 2:19
- 2 Corinthians 4:6
- Ephesians 5:8
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12
- Hebrews 13:17
- 3 John 4
- Isaiah 49:4
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
- Isaiah 45:9
- Lamentations 3:39
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
14 And he shall offer his offering unto the Lord, one he lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin offering, and one ram without blemish for peace offerings,
2 This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
5 They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.
15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
4 Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?
39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
Insights
True contentment flows from accepting God's providential plan for our lives.
A life without complaint reflects God's character in His children.
Our transformed character creates the essential platform for our spoken testimony.
Questions & answers
What does Paul mean by "grumbling or disputing" in Philippians 2:14?
The sermon explains that "grumbling" refers to emotional discontent or murmuring, while "disputing" means intellectual arguing or questioning God's providential plan. Both are directed against God and the circumstances He ordains.
Why does the sermon connect complaining to narcissism?
The preacher suggests that narcissistic self-indulgence in society fosters a deep discontent. By focusing excessively on personal desires and an idealized "plastic perfection," people become prone to complaining when reality falls short of their self-centered expectations.
How does a Christian's lack of complaining impact evangelism?
Not complaining is crucial for effective evangelism because a believer's character forms the platform for their verbal testimony. A joyful, thankful life makes the gospel message believable to a "crooked and perverse generation," showing that the gospel truly transforms lives.
What is the "Word of life" that Christians are to hold forth?
The "Word of life" refers to the gospel message. Christians are called to proclaim this message, which gives spiritual life to those who are dead in sin, shining light into a dark and distorted world.
Why should Christians stop complaining for their pastor's sake?
Believers' faithfulness and obedience bring their pastor joy in the "day of Christ," meaning their labor was not in vain. This allows the pastor to have a greater capacity to praise and glorify God in eternity for the effectiveness of their service.
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