The Sin of Grumpiness

A euphemism is a nicer sounding word used to describe a bad situation. We say that someone “passed away” instead of the harder sounding “died.” Instead of saying a person is “fat,” we might comment that they are a “little heavy.”

While these can be kind expressions to soften situations, euphemisms can also become spiritual traps. Whenever we redefine our sins in nicer terms we are in danger of not taking the sin seriously. In our culture we do this all of the time.

“He got up on the wrong side of the bed.” “I’m having a bad hair day.” “She’s just in one of those moods.” All of these common descriptions dangerously minimize the cause and cure of real sins against God and others.

It doesn’t sound wicked to inadvertently get up on a particular side of the bed. It could happen to any of us. But what if we described the attitudes and behaviors we really mean by these expressions like God does in the Bible? All of the sudden the harmless sounding condition sounds down right evil.

The Bible says, “Do all things without grumbling or questioning” (Philippians 2:14). A few verses earlier, the Bible gets even closer to the heart of the matter. “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:3, 4).

Selfishness and discontentment that express themselves in grumbling, complaining, sulking around alone, and not wanting anyone to bother you is much closer to a biblical description of your true condition. It really has nothing to do with your hair’s behavior; it has everything to do with your heart’s attitude.

Using euphemistic expressions has the added effect of making it sound like you aren’t responsible for your behavior. You can’t help it when you get into one of those moods, can you? You are just a victim of the side of the bed or your hair’s wild whims.

The Bible says you are always responsible for your attitudes and behaviors. 1 Corinthians 10:13 is a wonderful promise, but it also includes tight accountability. “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

Thank God that life will never get so tough that you have to sin. God has promised to sovereignly limit any and all temptations so that you will never be overwhelmed and inevitably fall. He will always give you an escape. The flip side of that promise, however, is that when you do sin, it is all your fault.

Why are selfishness, discontentment, and complaining even sins anyway? God is good, wise, and powerful. When you act grumpy you are setting yourself up in opposition to such a wonderful God and his ways.

Grumpiness says, “I don’t like my circumstances, and I’m going to let you know about it.” Meanwhile, God has put you in those very circumstances. They are far better than you deserve to be in. You should be in hell if it were a perfectly just matter of getting what you deserved.

In addition to his goodness, God is all-wise. His plan for your morning, day, and life are ideal. It is true that he takes us down hard roads sometimes, but even they are for his perfect purposes. If we could step back and see the big picture from his perspective, we would bow down in amazement at God’s wonderfully wise plans.

God is also powerful—all-powerful. He can and does pull off all of his plans. It is not like he wishes he could make his good and wise plan for your day happen, but sadly you got up on that cursed wrong side of the bed. God is so powerful, he can overcome even your messiest of hair days!

Every single one of your grumpy noises, snarls, complaints, profanities, and even your grumpy facial expressions are wicked sins against Almighty God. They all come from a heart that thinks your plan for your situation would be better than God’s.

If you are accustomed to excusing your behavior by euphemistic expressions you are in double trouble. These expressions blind you to the true condition of your heart. They tempt you to think you have no control over your attitude. And they eliminate God’s remedy for the problem.

If you don’t diagnose the problem properly, you can never administer the cure. Grumpiness is a sin. You need to call it what it is, confess it to the Lord, and repent of it. The Lord Jesus died on the cross to take the wrath of God that grumblers deserve. Jesus took the hell that you earned (perhaps even this morning) on himself. Three days later he rose from the dead, showing the world that God had accepted his offering.

He offers forgiveness to all who turn from their sins and trust wholly in Christ.

The solution to your problem is not to get out of the other side of the bed, or to get a new hairstyle; it is the cross. Repent of your selfishness, and ask the Lord Jesus Christ to give you a heart that loves him and is satisfied with all of his dealings in your life.