Have you ever opened the refrigerator door to an odor that made you say, “something in here stinks”? I’m sure most of us have had that experience, and when that happens we know if we don’t find what the source of the problem is, it is just going to get worse. Not too long ago, I had coffee with a friend and was surprised to hear some of the things she was saying about her church. She expressed discontent with several things, and she did so in a critical and judgmental manner. I left that day thinking, Something isn’t right in her heart.I heard jealousy, discontentment, criticism, and bitterness. She was discussing the worship department of the church, and it was obvious to me that she was offended that she had been passed over for the position of worship leader.
I tried to get her to see that her attitude was not good, but she wasn’t ready to be sorry for the way she was acting. I know for a fact that she talked to several other people and ended up spreading her critical attitude onto them. I was aware that her attitude stank and would only get worse unless she cleaned it up. Several months later she ended up falling into deep sin. The door for her sin may well have been opened in her life through a wrong attitude toward others. Her stink became an infection that caused very serious problems.
The whole thing could have been avoided if she had talked to God instead of others. She was not talking to me or anyone else to genuinely get help, she was simply complaining. And we’ve already seen God’s attitude toward that. If she had gone to God as David did, she might have said something like this: “God, I am feeling angry because I was passed over for the position of worship leader. I must admit, Lord, that I feel jealous and I think this was unfair. But I will put my trust in You. True promotion comes from You, and I believe that if You want me in that position, You can surely put me there. While I am waiting for You, I will praise You and support the team that has been selected. ”
By handling it that way, she could have expressed herself honestly, yet maintained spiritual integrity and righteousness. She could have managed her emotions instead of letting them manage her.
When you feel dog tired at night, it may be because you’ve growled all day long.
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