Malachi 3:13 “You have criticized me sharply,” says the LORD, “but you ask, ‘How have we criticized you?’ 14 You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God. How have we been helped by keeping his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD who rules over all?

      I asked God how the people of North America had become so discontented with their lives and all they had. The majority of the population has so many creature comforts available to most people in this part of the world. Yet people’s hearts have very little peace, joy, and contentment. Not only is there no gratitude for what they have, but there seems to be minimal effort to find something to be grateful for. Like entitled petulant children, refusing to be impressed with anything the Lord has done for them, they sit back and wonder why they have such a pusillanimous relationship with God. Mal. 3:14 You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God. How have we been helped by keeping his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD who rules over all?

      Instead of seeing Jesus as the gift of life God gave us, these ingrates can find nothing good in God and accuse Him of the unhappiness they are manifesting. They talk a good Christian talk and even have the Christianese down to a fine art, but they do not come to the cross to acknowledge their need for the Saviour nor to be healed of their ungratefulness. 2Tim. 3:5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! We need to pray that Jesus can be seen in times of ungratefulness. This darkness is an attack from the enemy of our soul. Satan comes to rob, kill, and destroy a person’s grateful heart. Satan knows that if we become complainers, we will lose the peace that comes through the gratitude and thankfulness we offer God. 

      The children of Israel lost so much because of their murmuring and ungrateful hearts toward their God who had delivered them from slavery. Num. 21:5 The people spoke against God and Moses: “Why have you led us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food! ” 6 Then the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people, and they bit them so that many Israelites died. Ouch! This same venom is still showing itself through the murmuring of discontentment within the hearts of mankind. Whether it be in the world or the church, this darkness makes its way like a rising fog that obscures the beauty and grace God has given us. The noise of discontentment is blocking the voice of the Lord who is saying, “Be still and know that I Am your God.” How dark must it get before we crave the light of the Lord’s forgiving grace?

      In the book of Numbers chapter sixteen, Korah, and his mob of discontents were all talking the talk of the day. Like misguided politicians, they were currying favour from the unhappy constituents to become leaders instead of putting up with the way Moses was leading. They used phrases like, “We are people of Renown, we are a holy community, why can’t we take our religion and do it our way? Why are we not as equal as you Moses?”  Num. 16:3 They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have gone too far! Everyone in the entire community is holy, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the LORD’s assembly? ” Discontented hearts and lives breeds jealousy and covetousness. When Moses heard this he went to his knees and buried his face under God’s hand of judgment. Moses then explained to Korah that tomorrow we will stand before God and we will let Him choose who He wants to lead the people of Israel. 

       Epictetus wrote: It is impossible for a man to learn what he already thinks he knows. I think God and Moses were giving Korah and all his followers a day to think about their ungratefulness towards God and how He wanted leadership to be done. They all had a day to repent and become grateful for what they had. These Levites had a ministry to perform but were not thankful to God for what they had and now wanted the holy office of the priesthood. They wanted everything they saw Moses walking in. Their reason for the hostile takeover was that Moses had not yet brought them to the land of milk and honey, and everything was taking too long. Num. 16:14a What’s more, you haven’t brought us into another land flowing with milk and honey. You haven’t given us a new homeland with fields and vineyards. 

      The standoff that had come to a breaking point was about to be cleared up by God. Those of you who are with Korah stand over there, and those of you who are with my servant Moses stand over here. Num. 16:32 The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, all Korah’s people, and all their possessions. 33 They went down alive into Sheol with all that belonged to them. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly. God will judge our thankless hearts. We are so blessed to be on this side of the cross where Jesus has paid for our sins of murmuring, complaining, thanklessness, and all the resentment that goes with these sins of ungratefulness. 

      If you have become resentful, disgruntled, and aggrieved with your walk in the faith then bring Jesus back into your daily prayers. Only Jesus can break the darkness that envelops a selfish soul. We should not fool ourselves into thinking that a bit of complaining about God’s ways will go unnoticed. The results will show up in our character, and out of the heart, the mouth will speak what comes out of it. If our hearts are full of gratitude towards God, then that is what will come out. As Paul says, we should think about the good things God has for us, and live in the fullness of His peace. Let us be grateful and think about the good things God has blessed us with. Phil. 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.