The Whiner
In my lifetime, I have had known several people
who were whiners. Being in the ministry and wanting to help, I would listen and
offer suggestions. I learned the hard way that is not what they want. I learned
to just listen.
The whiners I have encountered moan and groan (on and on) about all their problems sighing, “I just don’t know what to do.” They will say things like, “I’ve tried thus and so, but nothing seems to work out.” If they are Christians they will say, “I have prayed, Lord, show me what you want me to do.” Or “If you want me to do something, show me what it is.” To hear them tell it, if they did not have bad luck, they would have no luck at all.
I have to confess that listening to a whiner irritates me. After listen to the same thing, or the same type of thing, over and over wears me out! I was comforted (only slightly) by the fact that according to one dictionary, a whiner is one who complains in an annoying fashion. (Another says a whiner is one who complains in a childish, undignified way.) A whiner by definition annoys people.
What whiners do is focus on the problems and whine. When they do attempt to do something to solve some of their problems, they often do the wrong thing and they do it with a halfhearted attitude, certain this too will fail.
No matter what happens, they complain. They complain when they win. As an elderly lady entered a department store, a band began to play, an orchid was pinned on her dress, and a $100 bill placed in her hand. With a TV camera focused on her, a man said, “You’re the one-millionth customer. Can you tell us why you came to our store today?” Yes,” said the little old lady. “I’m on my way to the complaint department.” Whiners are always on their way to the complaint department.
What they need to do is stop concentrating on the past, complaining about the present and construct a course of action for the future. If that plan does not work, they should decide to not whine about it. Rather, they should use their time and energy to design another plan and take action.
Don’t take my word for it. Try God’s, especially the book of Philippians. “Do all things without complaining and disputing” (Phil. 2:14). “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead (Phil. 3:13). “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).
If you are a whiner, read Philippians, repeatedly. If you know a whiner, tell’m what I just told you. Or give them this piece of God’s mind.
Martin Luther said, “The devil is a chronic grumbler. A Christian ought to be a living doxology.”
© G. Michael Cocoris, 10/29/02
The whiners I have encountered moan and groan (on and on) about all their problems sighing, “I just don’t know what to do.” They will say things like, “I’ve tried thus and so, but nothing seems to work out.” If they are Christians they will say, “I have prayed, Lord, show me what you want me to do.” Or “If you want me to do something, show me what it is.” To hear them tell it, if they did not have bad luck, they would have no luck at all.
I have to confess that listening to a whiner irritates me. After listen to the same thing, or the same type of thing, over and over wears me out! I was comforted (only slightly) by the fact that according to one dictionary, a whiner is one who complains in an annoying fashion. (Another says a whiner is one who complains in a childish, undignified way.) A whiner by definition annoys people.
What whiners do is focus on the problems and whine. When they do attempt to do something to solve some of their problems, they often do the wrong thing and they do it with a halfhearted attitude, certain this too will fail.
No matter what happens, they complain. They complain when they win. As an elderly lady entered a department store, a band began to play, an orchid was pinned on her dress, and a $100 bill placed in her hand. With a TV camera focused on her, a man said, “You’re the one-millionth customer. Can you tell us why you came to our store today?” Yes,” said the little old lady. “I’m on my way to the complaint department.” Whiners are always on their way to the complaint department.
What they need to do is stop concentrating on the past, complaining about the present and construct a course of action for the future. If that plan does not work, they should decide to not whine about it. Rather, they should use their time and energy to design another plan and take action.
Don’t take my word for it. Try God’s, especially the book of Philippians. “Do all things without complaining and disputing” (Phil. 2:14). “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead (Phil. 3:13). “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).
If you are a whiner, read Philippians, repeatedly. If you know a whiner, tell’m what I just told you. Or give them this piece of God’s mind.
Martin Luther said, “The devil is a chronic grumbler. A Christian ought to be a living doxology.”
© G. Michael Cocoris, 10/29/02