Grumbling and complaining are very human characteristics. We tend to do these on a daily basis almost without thinking about it. God gives us strict instructions about these, however, reminding us that grumbling once resulted in the deaths of many (1 Cor 10:10, see Exodus 15 & Numbers 16) and that we are to ‘do everything without grumbling or arguing.’ (Phil 2:14)

Grumbling often arises from selfishness, discontent and ingratitude, and a better way of dealing with situations is to look for the positive and speak positively (see James 3:9-10). It can be very easy to grumble and complain about people and situations – and even to extend this to grumbling against God (the many examples of grumbling in the wilderness are often associated with putting the Lord to the test.) When you find yourself grumbling or complaining, make a conscious decision to stop and to speak positively, to encourage and to bless. Not only does this help others, it puts a smile on our own faces!

Grumbling tends to focus on other people’s faults and failings (and there will always be plenty of those around.) One of the things we need to give up for Lent (and beyond) is our willingness to play the ‘blame game’. This is probably the oldest game in the world (see Gen 3:12-13). It’s great fun, because it absolves us from any blame and puts the fault squarely on someone else’s shoulders. But the blame game and grumbling are ways of avoiding our own responsibilities and culpability and we need to let go of these attitudes in order to embrace encouragement and blessing.

The story goes that when Michelangelo completed the painting of the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel, he was asked why he had spent so much time on areas which would be unseen by people because of the height and the position. His reply was that whilst these areas might not be seen by people, they were seen by God, and he painted for the glory of God.

We may feel that Michelangelo’s genius is beyond us and that his attitude therefore need not apply to us, but mediocrity is not a right response to God’s extravagant love and care for us. A laissez-faire attitude towards God is not what God requires. He seeks for us to give our all to Him, to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

Excellence is the opposite of mediocrity, but it’s clothed in hard work. Thomas Edison once remarked, ‘Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.’ Michelangelo himself said, ‘If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it would not seem so wonderful at all.’ To eschew mediocrity means to be prepared to work hard at whatever God calls us to do: ‘And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.’ (Col 3:17)

Times of trouble concentrate the mind wonderfully and often help us to see what is truly important in life. When things are relatively calm, pettiness rears its head. Pettiness means we focus on trivial things that are not really important and act as though they are really significant. It seems to me, especially on social media, that we are very good at focussing on the petty and not very good at discerning what is truly important.

I have known arguments over things like the colour of curtains and feuds which have lasted decades over things which were really unimportant. We live in a society which enjoys being outraged and which takes offence at the least little thing. Such attitudes are not worthy of God’s children. He shows us what is really important in life (‘to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God’ (Micah 6:8)), and these are the things which need to engage our attention and time.

So let go of pettiness and concentrate on the big things in life!

The pile of presents sits before you, untouched. Each present is beautifully wrapped, adorned with ribbons and bows. There are gifts of all shapes and sizes, all arranged carefully: alluring, tempting, inviting.

Each gift has your name on it. The name tags couldn’t be clearer. These are all gifts from a loving heavenly Father, provided to each of His children from a generous heart. There is no lack, no scarcity. (James 1:17)

But the gifts lie untouched, unopened, unwanted.

It’s not that they are not needed. They are – desperately. Inside these packages are all the resources needed for a victorious, successful life.

Here’s the gift of peace, available to every child, regardless of circumstances. (Is 26:3, Phil 4:7)

Here’s the gift of love – unfailing, unending, faithful, constant and true. (1 Cor 13:4-8)

Here’s the gift of acceptance, meeting your deepest need for belonging. (Rom 15:7)

This parcel contains joy that doesn’t need alcohol, drugs, money, relationships or pleasure to feed it. (John 16:24, John 17:13)

This one has strength (Ps 18:32); this one has contentment (1 Tim 6:6); this one has hope that casts out all despair. (Rom 15:13)

Yet these gifts, while untouched and unopened, can do nothing. They are powerless unless unwrapped and owned.

God says, ‘O my child, why turn your back on these gifts, freely given? Why run to the world for its Poundshop trinkets when all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge sit before you?’

Why not come and unwrap all that God has for you?

To be jealous is to feel or show an envious resentment of someone or their achievements, possessions, or perceived advantages. It’s often connected to coveting (yearning to possess something which belongs to someone else) and is closely connected to resentment.

James says, ‘What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ³ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.’ (James 4:1-3)

We are jealous when we are insecure, when we don’t fully trust God to look after us and provide for our needs. We are jealous when we live solely for the now and don’t keep the long view in sight. When we are truly sure that God loves us, cares for us, provides all we need and wants the best for us, we can let go of jealousy.

I wasn’t a popular child at school. My mother was one of the teachers there, so that instantly set me apart and my studious quietness wasn’t particularly liked. All my skills were in the academic side of school, so when it came to PE and team games, I was always the last one to be picked for any team (and rightly so in terms of my athletic prowess!) That made me feel very awkward and left out, and I can still remember the hollow feeling of not belonging or being wanted or being included.

I’ve spent most of my life feeling an outsider, even though I have a loving family and very good friends, so the news that we serve a God who is all-inclusive is good news indeed. The fact that God welcomes all sorts is not something trite or just for children. It’s a reminder that we can all belong; we are all invited to be part of God’s family. We can all be included; there is no one who needs to feel misunderstood, unwanted or rejected.

We want to be a church that welcomes all sorts and accepts everyone, just as Christ has accepted us. (Rom 15:7) It’s not always easy to do this, for we have our own preconceptions and notions as to what God’s family should look like. It’s not easy to cross boundaries and get to know people who are completely different to us, as we are discovering in our Bible studies as we see Peter breaking the habits of a lifetime in order to see the conversion of Cornelius. (Acts 10-11) But if we don’t show acceptance, welcome and love to people, or if we only love those who love us, we are not reflecting God’s selfless love.

God accepts us as we are, but then there is often the challenge for us to change and become more like Him. We don’t change in order to earn God’s favour; we are the lucky recipients of grace and love without having to do anything at all to merit it! But there is then a journey of faith where God, the master sculpter, works on the statue of our lives to shape us into His image. As we travel on this journey, we do so from the place of assurance that we already belong and we are already included. God welcomes us, accepts us, loves us and transforms us.