It’s really kind of funny when we run into someone who is genuinely naïve about certain things.  We sort of chuckle at this innocence, and may even poke a little fun at such a person.  But even though being naïve may be somewhat foolish at times, it’s not always bad.  There are some things that we need to be naïve about, especially if we are Christians.

It all started with a radio contest in New York City.  The contest was called, “sex for Sam” and was overseen by the “Opie and Anthony” radio show.  Apparently, viewers were encouraged to have sexual relations in risky places.  Couples would receive a certain amount of points based on where they performed the act.  For example, a church building was worth 25 points, the Rockefeller Center was worth 30 points, etc.  Whoever received the most points would be given a prize.

The only thing the nail knows is what it is like to be pounded, pulled, bent and abused by something much larger than him.  His whole design is submission to the will and desires of something else.  He has no choice in where he is placed and no choice about his destiny.

Some nails are pounded into beautiful pieces of wood and great attention is given to their appearance.  Other nails are spent in rough timber to be supporting pieces of a greater frame.  The unlucky nails are bent from the careless efforts of the master, pulled and discarded.  If the master chooses, he will leave the bent nail in the wood as a misshapen piece of metal.

When we talk about the various sins that we must work hard to avoid, it seems that we spend a lot of time discussing the tongue.  Too often, we sin when we speak.  As James 3:8 say, “But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.”  How true!  Also, when we discuss the various sins that we can commit with out speech, we often focus on lying, cursing, or gossip.  And these sins definitely deserve our attention.  However, today I would like to discuss another sin.  A sin that I don’t think we discuss very often, but it is just as dangerous as any other.  Let’s take a few moments to consider the sin of grumbling or murmuring.