Shine Like Stars

When I was in university, I spent my summer and winter breaks working at a casual sit-down restaurant called Red Robin. I had a co-worker named Tommy and I have to admit he was not a nice guy. Most people tolerated him, but I don’t know of anyone who liked him!

Tommy complained about everyone—his guests, his tips, his co-workers—no one was safe. On one occasion, he was so upset with the guests at his table that he took a handful of their french fries and dragged them across the floor before putting them back in the basket! 

One year, however, I came home from university and resumed working at Red Robin. I heard people talking about Tommy. They were saying such nice things; I thought they must have hired a new person with the same name, but they hadn't! That evening when we worked together, Tommy was totally different! He was nice to everyone, helped his co-workers without even being asked, and—most noticeably—didn’t complain about a single thing. 

I finally asked a co-worker during a break, “What happened to Tommy? He’s like a different person?” Her response was, “He became a Christian!” Tommy’s life had totally changed, and he was impacting the people around him by doing one simple thing—not complaining. 

Philippians 2:14-15 tells us to do everything without complaining. What will happen if we do? Verse 15 says if you live a life free of complaining, you will shine like stars in the universe. Have you ever thought about why you can see stars? Stars are still there during the day, but you can see them at night because of the dark background. 

If you will choose to follow this simple command—do everything without complaining*—you will stand out from those around you like the stars stand out in the universe. Think about that! A star is so bright that its light can travel for more than four years and still be seen! A life like that is an extraordinary life!

But it won’t be easy. You won’t avoid complaining by simply biting your tongue or trying to ignore your circumstances. You will eventually blow up! There is a way to do this, though, and it’s found by flipping the page in your Bible to Philippians 4:13. Paul says he can do all things through Christ who gives him strength and so can you!

Pray and Journal—Take some time to pray and ask God to reveal how you complain. Maybe you complain verbally, through body language, or some other subtle way. Then ask Him to give you His strength and stand on that promise! Consider memorizing these verses from Philippians to help you shine like stars in the universe!

*It’s not complaining to say you are sick, not feeling well, or allergic