Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 

1 Peter 4:9

Never have I ever put a complaint box up in the church. I can think of nothing more deflating than a collection of nit-picky anonymous notes about the air conditioning being too cold, or young men wearing ball caps in church or another mess that the scout troop made over the weekend.

It’s not that I don’t care about people’s complaints. Well, no, maybe I don’t.

I make a distinction between complaining and innovating. Complaining is “expressing dissatisfaction or annoyance about something”. Innovating is “introducing a new idea, method, or device”. Look on just about any message board and you’ll see a whole lot of complaining, and not much innovation.

It’s not that all complaints are bad. The Israelites complained about not having enough food and water. God was annoyed but heard their complaints and took care of their needs. Job complained about what he felt was unfair treatment, and, well…he may have had a point. If 50 people tell me it’s too cold in the sanctuary, I’m pretty sure I’ll adjust the thermostat.

But some people just can’t help but spew out their minor objections. So much of complaining is about throwing up. Throwing up one’s negativity. It’s typically very subjective and tied to a person’s own personal preferences and opinions.

The thing is, I’m as much an offender as most people. I can’t help but sometimes verbalize my dislike or discomfort. Typically, when I throw up, it’s on my wife. She can take it to a point but she has her limits. When I’m in a group, I try to bite my tongue, but if I feel like my values or principles are being threatened, you’d better believe I’m going to speak up.

When I’m more aware of God’s presence, what comes out of my mouth tends to be more constructive. Productive. An idea, an alternative or a new way of thinking about things. Something proactive rather than reactive. Something that takes into account the people I Iive and work with, not just my own perspective.

Peter reminds us to steer towards hospitality rather than complaining. Think about that. Complaining centers on one’s personal desires, but hospitality focuses on the other. I would much rather have a hospitality box than a complaint box. A hospitality box would be filled with suggested innovations designed to serve others.

If you are a habitual complainer, you might try to remember that a little verbal vomit is to be expected, but nobody wants to bathe in your grumpy disapproval. For all of us, a spirit of hospitality and innovation will serve us better. It just requires looking at life through God’s eyes instead of one’s own limited perspectives.

Pay attention to your words this week! I wish you the best of luck,

as you keep trying to

think outside the box.

Have a great week,

Mitch