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Do all things without murmurings and disputings.

I. THE CHARACTER AND INFLUENCE OF AN UNMURMURING AND PEACEFUL SPIRIT.

1. Murmuring is here meant against God. It may arise

(1) from our experience of a disagreeable lot or from dark providences; or

(2) from an unthankful spirit. "Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" (Job 2:10.) We ought to be "content with such things as we have" (Hebrews 13:5), for "godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6). We are, therefore, to do nothing murmuringly, because such an attitude of mind seems to imply a too slender trust in the resources of Divine goodness and wisdom.

2. The disputings here meant point to those dissensions which war the peace of the Church. We ought to avoid disputings, because

(1) we know not where they may end;

(2) because they often arise from pride and ignorance (1 Timothy 6:4);

(3) because they disturb others as well as ourselves (Luke 21:19);

(4) because they produce confusion and evil works (James 2:16, 17);

(5) because, if we live in peace, God will be with us (2 Corinthians 13:11).

II. THE OBJECT AND AIM OF SUCH A SPIRIT. "That ye may be blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world, holding forth the Word of life." They were to be examples to the world of high Christian living.

1. Their lives were to be marked by a purity, a loftiness, a consistency, which would disarm the censure of the world. They were, as children of God, to present no spots upon which the eye of a critical generation might rest with a scorn for goodness.

2. Their lives were to be marked, not by a mere absence of fault, but by a conspicuous exhibition of all those positive graces that are identified with the full Tower of the Word of life.

(1) The lives of Christians ought to be a transcript of the Word of life, manifesting its beauty to the world. Thus the saints are to be "living epistles of Christ, to be known and read of all men."

(2) They are to shine forth as luminaries in a dark and perverse world (Matthew 5:16). Nearly all the light that fills the world is reflected from a million objects around us, and does not stream down directly from the sun. Similarly, Jeans Christ is the supreme Source of all light - the Sun of righteousness - but his light is reflected upon the world from the millions of believers whom he has enlightened and blessed by his Spirit. Therefore the saints ought to remember the voice of old, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee."

III. THE ULTIMATE BEARING OF SUCH A SPIRIT UPON THE GLORYING OF THE APOSTLE. "That I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain, neither labor in vain."

1. It is possible even, for an apostle to lose his labor. It may be in vain to the people who refuse his message, but not to himself (Isaiah 49:4).

2. The ministry is a work of great toil and strain.

3. The conversion of souls will enhance the joys of heaven to the faithful minister. - T.C.

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KJV: Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

WEB: Do all things without murmurings and disputes,