Learning Not To Sweat the Small Stuff

In review of Philippians 2:14-15 it says, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that no one can criticize you.”

Bottom Line:

Don’t grumble or complain, instead be a person who is blameless and pure, a “child of God” without fault that shines in a warped and crooked world.

What this means to me:

I am to do everything without grumbling, arguing or complaining. so that I may become blameless and pure, “child of God without fault in this warped and crooked generation.” If I can do this, then I’ll will shine among them like stars would in the sky.

This morning I’m reminded to “not sweat the small stuff.” There are times when I have to admit that I get caught up fretting and even fighting over the small stuff.  It’s a hard habit to break, as I can be negative by nature.  This is nothing new, even the first man and woman (Adam and Eve) experienced this (going around excusing and accusing.) It’s easy for me to excuse my mistakes but then accuse others for theirs. If I’m not careful, I can even tend to blame others for a problem in my life.

The passage in Philippians reminds me, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that no one can criticize you” (Philippians 2:14-15, NLT).

Complaints can fall into one of four types:

First are the whiners. You can get up in the morning and say, “Good morning, Lord!” but a whiner will choose instead to say, “Good Lord, it’s morning!”

Second are the martyrs. Their favorite expression is, “Nobody appreciates me!” They’re pros at throwing pity parties. They pout and complain when they don’t get their way.

Third are the cynics. Their attitude is, “Why bother? It isn’t going to make any difference.” They poison everything.

Fourth are the perfectionists. Nothing is ever good enough for these complainers. Their favorite phrase is, “Is that the best you can do?”

I need to keep in mind what is in Matthew 12:36: “Everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken” (NIV).  Wow, how many times have I complained, whined, or argued about something when I shouldn’t have been sweating the small stuff?

So instead of sweating the small stuff, I should learn to “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

In reality a complaint can make something that is difficult seem even worse because it takes it out the realm of reality and exaggerates it.

Today, I will consider if and what I have been consistently complaining about in my life. Would this be considered “the small stuff?”