Today I am exploring two colloquialisms:  

#1 It's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.  So often we as humans choose to curse the darkness rather than light a candle.  Because you cannot battle darkness with more darkness, cursing it or complaining, only adds to the darkness.  The candle is better because the light dispels the darkness.  When faced with a circumstance you can't control its happening.  However, you can control how you react to that happening.  

There is nothing wrong with complaining right?  WRONG

JAMES 5:9 AMP

Do not complain against one another, believers, so that you will not be judged [for it]. Look! The Judge is standing right at the door.

CROSS REF:

NUMBERS 14:27 AMP

How long shall I put up with this evil congregation who murmur [in discontent] against Me? I have heard the complaints of the Israelites, which they are making against Me.

COMPLAINING KINDLES GOD'S ANGER

NUMBERS 11:1-3 AMP

The People Complain

11 Now the people became like those who complain and whine about their hardships, and the Lord heard it; and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and devoured those in the outlying parts of the camp. 2 So the people cried out to Moses, and when Moses prayed to the Lord, the fire died out. 3 He named that place Taberah (the place of burning), because the fire of the Lord burned among them.

CROSS REF. 

PHILIPPIANS 2:14-15 AMP
14 Do everything without murmuring or questioning [the providence of God], 15 so that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a [morally] crooked and [spiritually] perverted generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights [beacons shining out clearly] in the world [of darkness],
PHILIPPIANS 2:14 NIV 
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 

THE TRUTH:  Matthew 5:13-16

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

CROSS REF.  

TITUS 1:16 

They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. END

Cross Ref James 2:14-26
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

#2 Misery Loves Company.   This 2nd colloquialism is interesting because there are different ways of looking at it.  If the villain of a story is miserable, he could find satisfaction in making those that made him miserable, miserable.  In this way of looking at it, there is a kind of pleasure in making other people miserable.  The 2nd way of looking at it involves finding comfort with others who are also miserable.  It makes me think of the term commiserate.  Finding comfort with those who also suffer.  

THE TRUTH: 

Consider Job:

Job 1:9-22

9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.[c]
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
    may the name of the Lord be praised.”

22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Job's friends come:

Job 2:11

11 When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

No doubt Job was comforted by them just being there.

These were some of the craziest earthly miseries to befall someone.  Yes they are terrible.  However, does Ultimate Misery love company?  Hmm let's see about that...

19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

You would think that perhaps having your loved ones around you would comfort you, but NOT IN THIS PLACE.  The rich man was in such torment, he asked to send Lazarus to his family so that no one comes where he is.  Abraham says he was in agony.  I also note that the rich man didn't say that he wished any of his enemies ended up where he was at either.  

The interesting thing is that Jesus is telling this parable.  Abraham's Bosom is what heaven was known as before Jesus died on the cross and rose again on the third day. Jesus said I go to prepare a place for you.  Hell is the place that is prepared for the devil and his angels.  Matthew 25:41 "Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

JOHN 14:1-3

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

John 14:6

Jesus answered I am the way the truth and the life and no one comes to the father except through me. 

Let everyone examine their way 

https://bit.ly/HellisReal7