He was glad God withheld the future. Each day’s events were enough for him to handle.”
–Linda Pool Anderson (They Were Lawmen)
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.”
–Proverbs 13:20 (NKJV)
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I used to keep a sign in my classroom: NO WHINING! Whining is one of those things I cannot tolerate. That’s one reason I don’t watch professional sports much anymore–they’re a bunch of whiners. Especially when it comes to money. My kids learned real quick not to whine. With that being said I want to give you something written by a friend, Bob Paton. (Get his blog, it is a good, inspiration blog–Learning Daily).
“Babies need our attention – they cry to let parents know that they need a diaper change, when they are hungry, and when they just want attention. However, this desire for attention only continues as parents give in every time a tantrum is thrown in order to get their way. How many times do we see children crying and doing other things until they get what they want? If this self-centered attitude is not brought to an end – well, just look at people today. The trap is set early for the lust of the world to be in people and we have the problems we see today.”
There is a difference between crying and whining. Crying usually indicates some kind of need. When a baby cries it has a need, but soon the parents must learn between crying and whining. What we are seeing in the streets of our cities right now is what happens to whining. They let it out by throwing a tantrum. The thing is, when a child throws a tantrum usually no one is hurt, but when older “children” throw tantrums people may die. The kid laying on the floor throwing a tantrum if not dealt with becomes a hoodlum. Someone, because they don’t get their own way becomes a threat to society.
A baby cries–“I’m hungry.” An adult-baby whines–“I want my way.” A child gets hurt and cries; a hoodlum thinks he is getting picked on and he throws a brick when no one is looking. It is distinguishing between “needs” and “wants.” What is it that you really “need” versus what is it that you “want”?
What we need is Jesus Christ. But the devil promises to fulfill what your evil heart desires. He promises to fulfill all your wants: lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Paul says, “And my God shall supply all your NEED according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, NKJV, emphasis added). Some version make it plural–“needs”–but what do we really need? Jesus Christ! Back to one of my pet peeves–whining. There is nothing worse than a Christian whining. “Woe is me, I need a blessing.” God doesn’t necessarily want to make you comfortable. What that person is really whining is that “I’m spoiled, and I deserve it.”
The destruction of other people’s property and the endangerment of their lives is the result of a permissive society. A society where the parent(s) would not or could not say “NO” to their little darlings. Pampering leads to whining and whining leads to a selfish person. A person who believes that he is entitled.
I pity those who are caught up in themselves. If they do not come to the realization that they need Christ; one day the whining will stop and the crying will be for real.