“You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world!” - Mathew 5:13-16 (NIV).
For those who had the experience of going through boarding schools in the 1970s, as this writer, there was a lot to complain about. The food was gross and the teachers perfected corporal punishment just for poor grades. Times have changed and today most boarding schools in Uganda offer four square meals: breakfast, break tea, lunch, evening tea and supper. Corporal punishment is prohibited. But do you think people ever stopped complaining!
Finding something to complain about can be for a good reason. In the early church, a complaint arose where, “Hellenestic Jews among them complained against Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food” (Acts 6:1).This was a complaint about good governance that led to a profitable solution. The Apostles once they heard, sat down and came up with a meaningful solution. “It will not be right for us to neglect the ministry of word in order to wait on table,” (vv 2). “Brothers and sisters choose seven men from among you…We will turn this responsibility to them..” (vv 3).
We can imagine that the solution worked for the matter disappeared. There are things around us worthy for us to raise complaints. Any tax payer should be concerned when public funds are abused through corruption to benefit a few. If one notices abuse either in school of the weak or at the work place by those in power and authority a complaint should be lodged. Of course complaints can upset the powers that be. But it is a Christian duty to fight for God’s righteousness, for “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1).
While raising genuine complaints is to be emulated, Christians though should be wary of having a complaining spirit, one which constantly finds something to complain about as a way of life. There are those of us who will never fail to find something to raise an issue, and what is more, we are not interested in looking for solutions as the early church but just airing out our grievances. This is nothing but a quarrelsome spirit, which we are warned against, “ And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful” (2 Timothy 2:24).
If there is a matter of concern around you, at home or in your community, please do not hesitate to bring it to the attention of the powers that be. It is expected of you as the “salt and light” of earth. But at the same time do not make it a lifestyle of yours going about picking up issues to picket against. There you may be sliding into an unproductive career complainer!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, where I see matters that grieve you and dishonor your children, help me bring such to the attention of the concerned, but also may I find things to praise for there is a lot more so, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
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19/04/2024 - 20/04/2024 All day“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” ( Isaiah 43:19).
Just before fire was unleashed down on Sodom and Gommorah, Lot was told to pack up with his wife and two daughters and leave their homestead. Now, once out of danger, “But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt” ( Gen 19:26). Perhaps here we might pause and ask why she was bothered to look back.
Of course it could have been that old “curiosity killed a cat” mistake! Yet, it could also have been Lot’s wife was not sure where she was going and longed for her old life back. This is a common error. There was nothing stirring to look back. Just before Lot’s neighbors had attacked his house eager to rape his visitors. “They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them” ( vv 5). Was there anything worth looking back to!
The case of Lot’s wife could be anyone else’s experience. The Lord has plucked you out of some mess. You have been delivered to a new life. Yet, somehow you decide to look back, as though there was anything good and worth longing for. Sometimes it is a bitter past you have been delivered from. Other than rejoice in your new blessings you keep being drawn back!
A wise caution goes, “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly” ( Proverbs 26:11). If the Lord has just led you out of a certain mess why look back like it was much better! Instead look ahead, for “he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past” ( vv 17- 18).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I thank you for delivering me from the darkness of the past and I look forward to a bright new future in you, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
