During my devotion time this morning, I had an “aha” moment while reading another familiar passage.  I’ve been making it a practice to stop and think about every word in each verse instead of just getting the gist of the verse.  This has opened my eyes to many things, and this morning was no different.

Do all things without murmurings and disputings: - Philippians 2:14

In the past, when I read this verse, I summed it up like this:  do everything without complaining—a command which is far more difficult to obey than it appears at first glance.  However, as I broke the verse down into individual words this morning, I had to ask, What’s the difference between murmuring and disputing?  I reasoned if they both meant “to complain,” it wouldn’t be listed twice.  So, I studied it out and found my answer.

The word murmur means precisely what one would think:  to grumble, to complain, to mutter under one’s breath.  Disputing, however, is a bit different.  In today’s language, when we think of a dispute, we think of an argument, and while that is one definition of the word used here, it isn’t the primary meaning.  Check out these definitions:  the thinking of a man deliberating with himself; inward reasoning; hesitation or doubt.  Whoa!

Disputings are the insults we think but never utter.  They are the criticisms we allow to float around our cranium while outwardly smiling at the target of those criticisms.  Disputings are the grumbles we allow to stew and fester until they bring forth bitterness and resentment.  Ouch! So murmuring is the complaining that occurs on the outside through the mouth, while disputings are the grumbles and doubts in the mind.

Now I understand why God chose to list both murmuring and disputing.  Sometimes, we think we’re doing a good job because we’re serving without any outward complaints, but according to this verse, that’s not enough.  The Lord wants us to perform without any complaints—inward or outward.  Thinking a complaint is just as dangerous and displeasing as speaking one.  And here I thought I was doing pretty well by following Thumper’s mom’s advice in the animated movie Bambi—“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all.”

The Bible tells us numerous times that it’s out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.  Our thoughts affect our attitudes and, in turn, our words.  So, while we may think a little grumble or complaint is fine as long as we never voice our opinion, we might want to remember this verse.  Our thoughts matter, and that’s why we must guard our minds against worldly influences and other attacks.

Do all things without outward complaints and inward grumbles.  It’s a tall order, and I know I have some work to do.  What about you?