Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:12-15 ESV)
The Apostle Paul encourages those of faith to allow the Holy Spirit to bring forth fruit in keeping with humility as we follow the leading of our Messiah. Such characteristics are the fruit of the Spirit which is produced as we seek to allow the Lord to work within our heart. As we follow His lead, our lives should bear evidence of those things the Apostle Paul tells us to put on.
Paul encourages us to put on forbearance or as he stated in Colossians 3:13 “bear with one another”. In our forbearance, we are to choose to walk alongside one another in order to edify and build one another up in faith. This is one of the key aspects of fellowship. Along with the encouragement to put on various characteristics, Paul also alludes to other attitudes which we should take off. As we endeavor to walk alongside of one another in faith, we are to put offcomplaining. Paul warns, we are to put off complaints against one another. The Greek word translated as complaint in verse thirteen is μομφή (G3437- momphe). This word is defined to mean to complain or to pass blame. Paul is clearly stating in his exhortation to the church that in our forbearance with one another as brothers and sisters in faith, we are to diligently avoid passing blame. This is very often the case as we consider complaints. A complaint is levied against another person or a situation because the one complaining is passing blame for something that they personally do not like. More often than not the complaint is based on a personal preference or a demand for conformity to the desires of the one complaining. Paul warns us very clearly, to be careful not to complain for the sake of complaining or blaming others. This attitude does nothing for the edification of the body of Messiah.
Now to interject briefly, I must say complaining is far different from having true, humble concern for another. If we see a brother or sister struggling, we are to come alongside of them in support in the hope that the Lord will work to bring resolve to the hardship (Gal. 6:1-5; Rom. 15:1-2; Eph. 4:32; James 5:13-16). But we are never to point out the struggles of another as a mechanism to complain about them (Matt. 7:1-5). Such attitudes do nothing but tear another down.
Back to the matter at hand, in our complaints we pass blame. We tear down. We bring strife within the camp. We allow our tongue to bring forth the possibility of division. Solomon warns us about the power of words. Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.”[1] The words we speak have the power to build up or tear down. We are warned in this verse to do our best to use words that will edify those around us. We will eat the fruit produced by the words we speak. Therefore speak things that will nourish fellowship within the community of faith. Proverbs 12:18, “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” [2] Words of complaint are like the thrusting of a sword against those who are the target of the complaint. Such words do nothing to bring reconciliation, only further division. Rather than using words that tear down and divide, we should as the Proverb instructs use wise words which can bring healing. We are therefore instructed to use our words carefully. The words we speak are best spoken in the effort to edify rather than complain against. To build up rather than to blame and tear down. Additionally Proverbs 15:1-2, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, but the mouth of fools spouts folly.”[3] The manner in which we address one another can either turn away wrath or stir up anger. We can use words that are spoken in an effort to encourage and come to an understanding or we can use words that add fuel to a fire stirring up disharmony within our fellowship. Be aware of the words you use, and may they be glorifying to your Savior.
Beloved, there is already enough garbage in this world which attempts to drive us apart. There is already enough distraction, conflicts and disharmony we do not need to add trash to the heap. We should strive to use words that bolster faith. We are to edify one another to encourage perseverance. For in our perseverance, the Lord will fill us with hope (Romans 5:1-5). This hope will not disappoint, rather this hope reminds us of the love poured out for the Salvation of our souls through the mercy of Jesus.
I am not addressing in the writing a neglect of accountability. I am not suggesting that we are to avoid being accountable to God nor am I saying that we do not need to be accountable to one another. Holding ourselves accountable is different than uttering complaints based on a difference of opinion or preference. We are to be accountable to God and to one another because in our willingness to be accountable, the Lord will help us grow producing the fruit of faith which is His will for those who call Him Savior (Prov. 28:13; James 5:16).
Considering again the Apostle Paul’s instruction in the book of Colossians, We must remember that he is writing to the church. He is warning those in the church to conduct themselves in a manner that is honoring to our Messiah. Paul is not speaking to those who do not know any better. It is wise for us all to heed such instruction. It is wise for us to monitor the words we speak. It is noble to conduct ourselves in a manner that glorifies our Savior to the best of our capacity, encouraging one another while today is still called today (Hebrews 3:12-14).
One last word to consider in regard to our walk as people of faith. In the book of Romans. Chapter 14, Paul instructs the church to act in grace toward others as they grow in faith. We are to be careful not to look down upon others. Paul warns against blaming or complaining against another who we perceive to be weak. Paul encourages us to allow grace and the council of the Lord to instruct all of us in our walk of faith. In verse 4 Paul wrote, “Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”[4] Who are we to judge another believer who is humbly striving to seek the Lord. It is by his own master that he is made to stand or fall. What Paul is telling us is that we are all to be servants of our Messiah. Our individual eyes must be focused on Him. We are to seek Him out as we endure the perseverance of our faith. As we focus on Jesus, He will instruct, teach and convict us in our walk. He will cause us to stand or fall. The presence and power of the Holy Spirit will draw us to Jesus. We are to keep our eyes fixed on Him. Paul is reminding us that too often we fix our eyes on what we complain about in others. We fix our eyes in what we perceive to be weakness or failings in a situation. And as we choose to do this we become distracted, agitated and lost. Focusing on complaints only leads us into the weeds. And the glory that is due our Savior is misdirected to deceptively direct attention to the distractions.
We must remember as Paul tells us in verses 10-12, “But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall give praise to God.’ So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.”[5] We are each one accountable for our own walk. We are each one accountable for the words we speak and the attitude we exhibit. We will each one stand before Almighty God giving an account of the good things He has done through our humility. Pray therefore that we choose to hold this attitude as we walk out our faith. Pray to the Lord for perseverance as He helps us endure the trials that this life sometimes throws at us. Pray that we choose to build one another up with words of edification rather than complaints. It is this attitude of reverence for our King that will unify His people under His covering of authority.
[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Pr 18:20–21.
[2] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Pr 12:18.
[3] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Pr 15:1–2.
[4] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ro 14:4.
[5] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ro 14:10–12.
Corby Shuey 