Biblical Devotions for Child-Training; Week 2 Complaining

Philippians 2:14-16 (NKJV)
"Do all things without complaining and disputing,  that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,"

This is a bible verse I have been repeating to my children since my oldest turned 3.  I am always telling them that they need to do all things without complaining and arguing because this pleases God and Mommy.  But I think these words are starting to just be words to them and no longer mean anything.  So this devotion was to remind them about why complaining is wrong.  Complaining is a sin.  And all sin needs to be disciplined.  Why exactly is it a sin?

What is in your heart comes out of your mouth.  If you have a heart full of complaints then you have a bitter and selfish heart, a hard heart, a heart that can't learn and be changed to be more like God wants you to be.

How did God discipline His people when they complained?  Look at the story of Moses and his people made to wonder the desert for 40 years.  They forgot God's blessings.  They forgot what it was like to be slaves in Egypt.  All they could remember was the good food they used to eat and now they were only eating Manna.  They were tired of eating the same thing everyday so they started to complain.  Poor Moses was so tired of their complaining that he started to complain.  Complaining can become contagious!


Numbers 11(NKJV)
The People Complain
"Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused."

I recommend reading all of chapter 11 with your children and discussing it as you go.  It may take a few days to do this because as it sinks in to their hearts and minds they start bursting with questions.  At least my children seem to ask a crazy amount of questions and a few verses can take us 30 minutes to get through.  This is why I love doing this with my children though.


After the discussion we talked about how we should be thankful for all the things we have.  We started listing all the things we could and should be thankful for.  This was great to do because Thanksgiving is right around the corner and we had already been talking about being thankful.


Colossians 3:15 (NKJV)
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful."

Complaining is a big issue in our house so it will continue the next day.  I pray that reading these bible verses with your children blesses you and them.