Solving Problems Part 6 – Steps To Solving Problems God’s Way
James 1:1-8
Intro>
The words “Solving problems God’s way” suggests there is more than one way to solve problems.
* There is God’s way and man’s way.
* There is a right way and wrong way.
* We get into a rut in the way we solve problems.
-- We approach problems the same way every time.
-- We develop a consistent response to problems.
-- The problem is that it’s often the wrong response.
* Too often our response to problems is based on human logic rather than Scripture.
Ex. – Jesus & feeding of 5000 - Mark 6:35-44
-- Problem = no food for everyone to eat
-- Logical response #1 – Send them home and let them eat there (v. 36a)
-- Logical response #2 – Go to the grocery store and buy 200 penny worth of food (v. 37)
* It never entered into the minds of the disciples that Jesus could solve the food problem a totally different way.
* This morning I want us to get down to the nuts and bolts of solving problems God’s way.
* Let’s take a look at the steps to take to solve problems God’s way!
--An attitude to embrace
--4 things to remember when problems are encountered
--4 steps to take when problems are encountered
I. An attitude to embrace Jam. 1:2-4
A) The attitude 1:2
*Jas 1:2 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.
* Count it a privilege!
* Here is an attitude of acceptance and not rejection.
* Don’t have the attitude that this is going to hurt me, but that it’s going to help me.
* Too often our attitude is, "Oh no, here comes another trial (problem)!"
* Rather than joy, it’s groaning and complaining.
* James is asking us to take another look and gain a different perspective.
* Problems are not to be dreaded; that’s the wrong attitude
* Problems or trials should produce “pure joy” (lit., “all joy”; i.e., joy that is full or unmixed), not just “some joy” coupled with much grief.
* If we are going to get the greatest benefit from our problems our attitude is critical
* Not just "don’t worry, be happy" as the song goes…. We need a basis for this attitude…
B) The advantage 1:3-4
Why be joyful? What’s the reason?
- Because when you receive it, rather than resent it, it will benefit your life.
* There are advantages to problems. They do something inside us.
* "Knowing this"…You already know this, but I’m going to remind you that the testing of your faith will develop patience in you.
BKC – "A test is given to see if a student can pass, not pass out!"
* When God gives us a test, He’s not trying to hurt us, He’s trying to help us.
1) Perseverance is developed in us v.3
2) Spiritual maturity is developed through trials. V. 4
3) Wisdom is gained through problems we experience in our lives. V. 5
II. Things To Remember
A. Remember - I’m Not In This Problem Alone. II Tim. 4:16-17
* I may have caused the problem, I may not… it doesn’t matter – I’m not in this problem alone.
* As a Christian, there is not situation in which we are alone!
* We may FEEL alone (like Job), but we are never alone!
* Ex. Prodigal Son – He was not really alone… solution to problem was at home waiting on him. (Luke 15:16-17)
* God doesn’t forsake us when we get into trouble… not even when we bring problems upon ourselves.
* Our tendency is to separate God from our problems…. To go it alone!
* “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
* God is more concerned about your problems than you are!
* 2 Tim 4:16-17 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. (17) Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
* You’re not in this alone, so don’t go it alone!
* Sometimes we have to say, "This is my fault…I messed this up BUT you promised never to leave me."
B. Remember - God is Bigger Than Any Problem I Have.
* Bigger than your spouse, neighbor, enemy, Mother-in-law, Father-in-law, boss, child, parent, …anyone.
* “Is there anything too hard for the Lord?”
* Jesus – miracles- He proved Himself ruler over Satan, demons, disease, & nature!
* He is the “Almighty”, not one of the greats!
* Problems only SEEM to be bigger than life itself… they’re not bigger than God.
* God is bigger than any financial problem,… any relationship problem, … any enemy you have, …any personal problem, …any physical problem, …any problem!
* God is superior to and stronger than any obstacle we face.
* If we believe that, lets behave like God is bigger than any problem we have.
* Numbers 14:1-9 Joshua and Caleb saw God as bigger than giants.
Num 14:1-9 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. (2) And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! (3) And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? (4) And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt. (5) Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. (6) And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: (7) And they spoke unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. (8) If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. (9) Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.
C. Remember - God Is Able To Solve Or Remove This Problem If He Chooses.
* It really is God’s choice – to remove or to leave the problem.
* Ex. Paul & Silas – Jail in Acts 16:14-31, 40 - God removed(solved) the problem.
* Not always God’s will to remove or solve a problem. Ex. – Paul, I Cor. 12 – Thorn in flesh.
- God did not remove Paul’s thorn because He had a higher purpose for leaving it!
- Because it was more advantageous for Paul to have it than for him to be rid of it.
* Some problems are not removed because they are for our good and God’s glory.
* No problem comes to us unless it is first sifted through the hand of God.
* Problems do not escape the sovereignty of God. Our problems don’t sneak up on God!
* In God’s time, He turned the captivity of Job.
* God could have turned the captivity of Job sooner, if He choose to, but He only did so when He had accomplished in Job what He desired.
* Here we are acknowledging the sovereignty of God! --- Who’s in charge?
* Ex. - In Job’s case, Satan wasn’t regulating the pressure or pain that Job experienced; it was God. First, God said you can touch all that Job HAS, but you can’t touch Job. Second, God said you can NOW touch Job’s body, but you can’t kill him. God was restricting and restraining Satan.
D. Remember - All Problems Have Teaching Value. James 1:5
* V. 5 implies this…that there is something to learn either about ourselves or God or both.
* Some problems teach us not to disobey God
* Some problems teach us the value of relationships
* Some problems teach us what’s valuable in life
Psa 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
* David learned by experience the sorrow and physical pain of disobedience and hiding sin
* Ever said? “I learned my lesson…”
* Don’t run from problems, learn from them!
* Adopt the attitude, that says - “I can learn something from this.”
III. Steps To Take
A) Don’t Resent The Problem. James 1:2
* JB Phillips Paraphrase – “do not resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends”
* Job’s attitude – “the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away”
* Job 2: 7-10 “7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.
9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.”
* Job recognized the sovereignty of God in his problems.
- That God is in control when things seem out of control!
- That God is God when things are good AND when problems overwhelm us!
* Count it all joy when trouble comes—how? Why? “knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
B) Lean Not On Thine Own Understanding. Prov. 3:5-6
* Proverbs 3:5-6 “5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths”.
* But we lean on our own understanding …our own thoughts, …our own plans
* “lean not on thine own understanding” – not mean that we ignore logic, it means we allow for the supernatural
* We reject the idea that the solving of this problem is totally up to me and the use of my skills and my resources.
* This means we stop looking for the world’s way of solving this problem and we begin to look for God’s way!
Illus.- We think we are so smart at solving problems! (We think that when it comes to solving problems we are the smartest person in the world.)
”I read about a doctor, a lawyer, a little boy and a priest who were out for a Sunday afternoon flight on a small private plane. Suddenly, the plane developed engine trouble. In spite of the best efforts of the pilot, the plane started to go down. Finally, the pilot grabbed a parachute, yelled to the passengers that they had better jump, and then he bailed out.
Unfortunately, there were only three parachutes remaining. The doctor grabbed one and said "I’m a doctor, I save lives, so I must live," and jumped out.
The lawyer then said, "I’m a lawyer and lawyers are the smartest people in the world. I deserve to live." He also grabbed a parachute and jumped.
The priest looked at the little boy and said, "My son, I’ve lived a long and full life. You are young and have your whole life ahead of you. Take the last parachute and live in peace."
The little boy handed the parachute back to the priest and said, "Not to worry, Father. The ’smartest man in the world’ just took off with my back pack."”
C) Pray For Wisdom From Above. James 1:5
* When problems enter our lives we need wisdom.
- not the wisdom of the world but that which comes from above.
- not the wisdom that comes from Dr. Phil or Oprah
* “let him ask of God”
* God wants to give wisdom… wisdom that comes from outside ourselves
* He gives! That means He is the source of the wisdom. That means we did not posses it in and of ourselves.
* God gives , but we have to ask Him for it!
* Don’t worry about your problems, pray about them!
* Don’t talk to yourself( worry) , talk to God (pray)!
* Pray that God will give you His solution to the problem!
* Many times problems confuse us and we need wisdom from God to understand the value of a particular problem.
- Just because we don’t SEE any advantage, doesn’t mean there isn’t any.
- Ex. Joseph – I don’t believe Joseph initially saw the advantage of his mistreatment by his brothers and his imprisonment in Egypt. It was not until he was promoted to second unto Pharoah that he could say ," You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good"
D) Trust God With The Problem James 1:6
* One of the things that accompanies a problem ridden life is worry!
* Don’t worry! -- Don’t’ worry about anything, pray about everything!
* “Cast all your care upon Him, for He careth for you”
* Matthew 11: 28-30 “28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”.
* “Rest” - not physical rest (not body rest)… emotional and spiritual rest
-- Emotionally, I die to this problem and allow God to have His way in it.
* When we are really trusting God, we are not churning on the inside.
-- I’m not talking about becoming apathetic or fatalistic.
- not "whatever will be , will be" BUT what God wants is what I want.
- emotionally dying to what I want
* Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
* I take the problem off of my worry list, and I present it to God.
* I place it on His workbench! …let Him fix it.
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