The Depravity of Murmuring

1 Corinthians 10:10

Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

We live in a murmuring society that never seems to be content with what God has given them. It does not matter how good God has been to some, they always seem to find a reason to murmur. When you look at the children of Israel in the wilderness, it did not matter how much God did for them, they always found a way to murmur. God delivered them from bondage, but they still murmured. God parted the Red Sea and delivered them from Pharaoh’s sword, but they still murmured. God gave them manna every day from Heaven, but they still murmured. Murmuring seemed to be their character.

To murmur is to complain quietly about your dissatisfaction with something. There are many who seem to murmur about their church, the blessings that God has given them, or their situation in life, but they never realize how much God detests murmuring. Let me show you a few sins that God categorizes with murmuring.

God categorizes murmuring with idolatry. Verse 7 says, neither be idolaters…. Most believers would look at idolatry as a wicked sin, and it is wicked, but God says that murmuring is just as wicked as bowing down to an idol.

God categorizes murmuring with fornication. We often talk about the importance of youth staying pure until the day they get married because of the wickedness of fornication. However, God categorizes murmuring with fornication. How bad is fornication in God’s eyes? It is so bad that God says it is an abomination to Him. Therefore, to murmur is just as much an abomination to God as fornication.

God categorizes murmuring with despising the spiritual food He gives you. Verse 9 says, neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. God sent them manna every day to feed Israel, yet it was not good enough for them. Instead, they despised the manna resulting in God killing many of them.

God's detest of murmuring ought to cause many to stop their under-the-breathe complaining about God’s provision. The reason murmuring is so detestable to God is because it tells God that His blessings He gives to those who do not deserve them are not good enough. God is good enough to bless every believer, but it never seems to be good enough. Now, how do we stop murmuring?

First, by being thankful for what you do have. It is as easy to be thankful as it is to murmur. Being thankful helps you to appreciate all you have in life, whereas murmuring causes you to live a miserable life. It really is easy to be thankful; all you have to do is look at what you have and realize you would not have it if it were not for God.

Second, realize you have more than you truly deserve. It is easy to stop murmuring when you realize the only thing you truly deserve is an eternity in Hell; anything God gives you above that is a bonus and a blessing. You could easily stop murmuring if you acknowledge that it is of God’s mercies that you have any blessing today. Murmuring is simply the result of an entitled mentality that demands of God to give you what you want. Be careful you don't become this type of believer, but be grateful, and you will find everything God gives you in life is a bonus.