Do all things without grumbling or disputing, so that you will be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, ... (Philippians 2.14-16 LSB)

Whether in social conversations online or offline, serious or lighthearted chats, we ought to keep watch of our words.

On the internet, many people make negative comments more so than they would face-to-face. And when meeting up with friends and family, it is easy to participate in lighthearted grumble / complaint about anything that seems to not meet our expectations.

But small negative conversations can work us up to bigger negative thoughts.

The tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our existence, and is set on fire by hell. (James 3.6 LSB)

And many times, we lack the full picture of why things are the way they are. What we grumble about are just symptoms of something else that we often do not understand.

Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. (James 1.19-20 LSB)

Let us seek first to listen and understand; and avoid grumbling as we do our daily activities.