Verse 2:14–15

Do all things without murmuring or complaining & questioning or doubting, that you may show yourselves to be without blame, innocent and spotless children of God in the midst of a perverse and wicked generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights in the dark world,

We must never forget the major lesson in the journey in the wilderness led by Moses. This journey is usually looked on as an analogy to our lives in Jesus. The Israelites leaving Egypt were headed on a 11 day trip. Because of their murmuring and complaining, none of them made it to the promised land. They all (except for Joshua and Caleb) died in the wilderness—and the short journey took them forty years and a new generation tanning beds.

One of the major signs of maturity is this lack of complaining and doubting. This is one of the reasons why the working out of our salvation takes so long. According to these verses, it is also the source of a lot of our witness. It is why we shine in the darkness as children of the light.

Verse 2:16

holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of the Messiah I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Paul’s not looking to be able to boast about those he led to the Lord. He is looking to have a good report when we are all gathered at the marriage supper of the lamb. He is trying to show them what would be pleasing and what he is looking for.

It all starts when we learn to trust Him

Then we can see the good He is doing in our lives and thank him genuinely for His love and wisdom tanning beds. Qvetching about your life does no one any good—in fact, it does a lot of harm. Quit it!