Most of us can handle “be humble” in theory. We like the idea of it, at least. Then life happens. A frustrating text. A rude comment. A news headline that feels like it was designed to raise your blood pressure. Suddenly, humility in Jesus feels… optional.
That’s why I keep coming back to Philippians 2, especially verses 14 and 15. Paul has already spent time pointing to the humility of Jesus, the kind that chooses service over status. And then he brings it down to street level with one painfully practical instruction.
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing.”
No grumbling. No constant low-grade complaining or petty quarrels. And no contentious disputes that turn every conversation into a courtroom.
This isn’t just about good manners. It’s spiritual obedience. And it’s way harder to put into practice than it sounds.
“Do All Things” Is a Bold Instruction
Paul’s message here doesn’t aim at one corner of your life. It goes after your whole day. Your home. Your group chat. The way you talk about coworkers. The way you talk about your church. Even your “prayer requests” that are basically disguised criticism. You know the type.
And the command isn’t to avoid big public blowups. It’s more specific. Do it without grumbling or disputing. The ESV (English Standard Version) words it with blunt simplicity.
This hits because our culture is basically built on hot takes and outrage. We’re trained to assume fault, assign blame, and keep receipts. It feels normal to be annoyed. It feels responsible to be negative. But “normal” is not the same thing as godly.
Why Grumbling Is Never Neutral
Grumbling looks small. It feels harmless. Sometimes it even feels justified, like we’re simply being honest about our circumstance.
But Scripture has a long memory about murmurings, especially in the wilderness.
The Israelites came out of slavery, got daily provision, and still found ways to complain. They argued with Moses. They dragged Aaron into it. And they treated God’s instruction like an inconvenience, as if salvation was supposed to come with perfect comfort.
That’s the scary part. Grumbling can become a lifestyle. And when it does, it interferes with your testimony. It turns your heart into a complaint department.
Paul’s not saying Christians should pretend pain isn’t real. He’s not calling for fake smiles. He’s calling for a deeper response than constant friction. A posture shaped by grace, not by irritation.
The Goal: Live Like Children of God
Philippians 2:15 gives the reason. It’s the “why” behind the command.
Paul wants believers to prove themselves blameless and innocent, children of God in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation. Notice what he doesn’t do. He doesn’t act like his era was some golden age. Every generation has its own mess. Ours has apps and algorithms. Theirs had different pressures. Same human heart.
So what’s the call? To live above reproach. Not in a self-righteous way, but in a clear, steady way that makes people pause. Like, “Wait… you didn’t take the bait. You didn’t clap back. You didn’t turn this into a fight. What’s different about you?”
That’s the moment your identity shows. Children of God don’t have permission to blend in with the world’s constant contempt. We’re called to unity, to patience, to a kind of steadiness that only makes sense if Jesus is real.
Lights in the World, Not Smoke in the Room
Paul’s image is simple. Believers appear as lights in the world.
And lights aren’t loud. They’re visible. They’re consistent. They help you see.
This is where gratitude becomes a practice. It’s a decision to remember what God has done instead of replaying what everyone else is doing wrong. Romans pushes a similar point when it talks about being transformed, not conformed. Thessalonians hits the same nerve with that steady call toward thanksgiving in the middle of real life.
If you’re trying to hold fast to the word of life, the habit of constant disputing is a leak in the bucket. It drains joy. It fractures unity. And it turns small disagreements into big sin.
A Quick Self-Check for the Week
Here’s a simple question I’m asking myself: where am I most likely to complain?
Is it online? At home? At work? About politics? About church stuff? Or about people who disagree with me?
And then another question: what would humility look like there?
Not passivity. Not pretending everything is fine. Just a different spirit. A calmer tone. A slower reaction. A choice to speak like someone who belongs to Christ.
Because the point isn’t to win arguments. The point is faithfulness. The day of Christ is coming. Paul even ties this kind of everyday obedience to that bigger horizon, the idea that our labor isn’t wasted when it’s shaped by Jesus.
The Quiet Power of Not Complaining
Not complaining won’t make you popular. Sometimes it will make you stand out in an awkward way. But that’s kind of the point.
In a world addicted to outrage, a calm Christian who refuses quarrels can look almost supernatural. Not because they’re better. Because they’re anchored. Because grace is doing something in them.
I’m the writer behind Monk & Martyr. I don’t have formal seminary training, and I take comfort in the fact that Saint Francis of Assisi did not either. My “training” has been lived conversion and the slow work of following Jesus through real seasons of life. I write honest, Scripture-rooted encouragement that points back to one thing. You’re loved more than you know, and Christ’s grace is bigger than whatever you’re carrying.