As a child I loved the “Sesame Street” character Oscar the Grouch. This green muppet, whose housing preference is a garbage can, always lives up to his name. He complains about everything and resents all social contact.
Oscar’s role is amusing because he is a caricature of people we actually know. We all have a friend, relative, coworker, or neighbor whose well of misery never runs dry. This person is perpetually dissatisfied with the weather, angry with local officials and businesspeople, agitated by customer service, unhappy with family relationships, and offended by the least of slights. And health problems? We try to steer Oscar away from that subject altogether, but to no avail. The complainer won’t be diverted from his favorite topic.
If I suspect that I myself have too much in common with the Grouch, I may need to change my attitude. Complaining constantly is wrong. It’s wrong because it annoys others. Doesn’t Jesus say to treat people as I want to be treated (Matt. 7:12)? Even a chronic complainer is offended when treated to a dose of his own bitter medicine. And habitual griping is wrong because it indicates self-centeredness. The grumbler acts as if he or she were the only person in the world with problems. This narrow view interferes with Christian responsibility. The Bible says to “do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil. 2:3-4). Finally, continual complaining is wrong because it offends the God who so richly blesses me (1 Cor. 10:10-11).