January 5 – I Can’t Get No Satisfaction

“And the Lord said, ‘To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying: “We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not weep.”’” (Luke 7:31-32 NKJV)

Some people are never satisfied. You know the type. In the winter it’s too cold and the thermostat has to be set at 76; in the summer it’s too hot and everything has to be set at 68, or maybe 66. If you turn work in one way, it needs to be done differently. If you fix it the way they want it, they liked it the first way after all. Jesus talked about the Pharisees that way: we played your tunes and you didn’t dance. We mourned with you, and you didn’t mourn. He didn’t ask the question that roars through our mind when dealing with people like that: “What do I need to do to make you happy?” We all know people like that. We work with people like that. We live with people like that. Sometimes, we are people like that. When we recognize God’s presence in the midst of every situation, we can find ways to be content, and not spend all our time complaining. When we deal with people who complain constantly, we must set a positive example that helps them recognize God’s presence no matter what’s happening.

Were you one of those people at work or home today? Did you find a reason to nitpick and complain and, even though you may have realized it at the time, you just couldn’t stop? Did you deal with someone like that today? If that was you, reflect on the situations where you complained and imagine finding ways to encourage others the next time. If you had to deal with a complainer, did you show them God’s love and God’s presence. If that was your today, you’ll face a similar situation tomorrow. Prepare now to show grace instead of complaining; to show God’s love instead of defensiveness or irritation.

Lord, help me learn to be satisfied. Keep me from complaining about every little thing and help me to bite my tongue even when complaints may be justified. Let me show Your love and grace to others when nothing I do seems to be able to please them.

About rockyfort

I am a retired Middle School Teacher. I share each day what God is teaching me from reading His word hoping that people can benefit from reading what God has taught me.

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