As I mentioned last week, although there are dozens of things that we should consider “banning” from our lives, I am suggesting that we concentrate, at least for now, on just three. In my last two blogs, I focused on banning both “WORRY” and ‘HOARDING” from our lives. This week, I want to focus on the third and final “ban.”    

3) Ban “Sulking”

You might be wondering why I chose the word “sulking,” rather than another word like “grumbling.” Interestingly, I asked myself the same question. I could easily find plenty of instances in the Bible when God’s people “grumbled,” like during the time the Israelites were in the wilderness “grumbling” about Moses’ leadership, or grumbling about their lack of a variety of delicious food when all they got was quail and manna. So why did I choose to ban “sulking” instead of “grumbling?”

In short, “grumbling” is more “verbal” than “sulking. Grumbling is offensive to God because it questions His concern and care for us during times of trial. Furthermore, it’s not very becoming of anyone who wants to be thought of as “respectable.” As people in my generation used to say, “Grumbling isn’t ‘couth.’” It isn’t “couth” (a new word for some of you) because grumbling involves muttering words of discontentment or as someone suggested, making indistinct sounds much like an animal growling.

Sulking, on the other hand, is usually silent. Sulkers are unpleasant to be around because they are angry about something but refuse to communicate their discontent with others because they don’t want to receive a lecture or reprimand, or to receive any advice from others to just “get over it!” Sulking seems to be much more respectable than grumbling simply because it is usually non-verbal.    

With today’s pandemic, many of us have the tendency to simply “sulk” in silence, knowing that there is nothing we can do to arrest the spread of the virus other than to remain isolated. But wait a minute! Hunkering down “in place” is doing something to help stop the spread of the virus. It’s something that we are doing right now to be a part of the solution. So, staying isolated for this time is a good thing, but what are we supposed to be doing while remaining isolated?

I suspect that we have all been receiving some practical advice on things that we could be doing while in isolation. But before we think about “doing,” we first need to concentrate on “becoming.” And this leads me into the heart of today’s blog. Let me offer three important tips to help us stop “sulking” in light of our present circumstances, circumstances that we cannot change. 

1) Choose contentment. As most of you know, the Apostle Paul lived his life constantly “on the edge.” He was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, not to mention the constant abuse and threats from his own countrymen. Furthermore, he lived with a “thorn in the flesh” for which he asked God to remove on three different occasions, but God saw wisdom in allowing him to endure it for the following reason:

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in your weakness.’ Most gladly therefore, I will boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:9-10).

But that’s not all. While sitting in a Roman prison (he was also on “lockdown”), Paul responded to the Church in Philippi about the gift that he had just received from them,

“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concerns for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked the opportunity to send me something. Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself (Phil. 4:10-11).

Paul learned the secret of contentment because he knew the One who was in control of all things in his life, including his present circumstances. May we also learn to trust the same caring and loving God. 

2) Choose joy. Now this is a tough one, but it’s related to the previous one. If we know that God is in control of all things in our lives, then we can be “joyful” knowing that nothing will beset us that hasn’t first been filtered through His fingers of love. Furthermore, James tells us,

“Consider it all joy my brethren when you encounter various trials; realizing that your faith is being tested and it will produce endurance that will lead to your spiritual well-being so that you will lack nothing” (Js. 1:2-3).

Not only is “joy” one of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, but it is also a gift from our Lord Jesus Christ to all of those who learn to “abide” in Him, or to “remain in fellowship” with Him. He told us to “abide in Him” for a reason, 

“These things have I spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (Jn. 15:11).

There is just no need for sulking when we abide in Christ. In fact, any attempt to sulk can immediately be turned into joy when we focus on the One who has given us His Spirit.

3) Choose fruitfulness. During this time of isolation, we must all find things to do that are fruitful and productive. Being “content” and filled with “joy” (as we discussed above) are the “being” parts of our conversation. Now comes the “doing” part. We can all use this time to reach out to others because this takes our minds off ourselves. However, I hesitate to make a list of things to do because they will be different for each one of us. But whatever you choose to do, make sure that your choices are meaningful, choices that will move you toward a closer walk with Christ while blessing others in the process.

Jesus talked about bearing fruit, and the fruit of which He spoke was always the “fruit of righteousness,” or fruit that leads to or increases things that are good and right. Bearing fruit also demonstrates that we are His disciples.

“By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples” (Jn. 15:8)

Jesus said that the secret to bearing fruit is to “abide” in Him, that is, to remain in fellowship with Him. The result is “much fruit.” The Apostle Paul encouraged the churches to,

“Bear fruit for God (Rom. 7:4) and to “Bear fruit in every good work (Col. 1:10).

And the Apostle James instructs each of us about true wisdom, saying,

“The wisdom from above is…full of mercy and good fruits (Js. 3:17).

During this time of isolation, we need to be fruitful, finding creative ways to bring mercy and goodness to others. In other words, we need to find ways to bless others in Jesus’ name.

And so, we end with the final “ban” by banning “sulking.” We need to stop feeling sorry for ourselves, saying under our breath “Woe is me!” On the contrary, let’s choose CONTENTMENT, JOY, AND FRUITFULNESS. If we do, our time in isolation will be used by God to enrich our own lives and at the same time, bless others.