What Good Are Problems? Series

From The Problem to the Solution

9 – WHAT GOOD ARE PROBLEMS?

This morning, we are bringing to a conclusion the SERIES OF MESSAGES we began this fall, entitled “From the Problem to the Solution”

And I trust, that you have been blessed, encouraged, and strengthened, as we’ve talked about sure ways we all can go from our problems to THE SOLUTION

Now, by way of review (and I will be brief), we, first of all, learned the 6 reasons for all of life’s problems

--*****world we live*****

--*****choices we make*****

--*****enemy we face*****

--*****people we know*****

--*****progress we gain*****

--*****God we serve*****

And regardless of the problem, there is a way out

Now, understand that there’s a RIGHT WAY and a WRONG WAY to handle life’s problems

Mildred, the church gossip, and self-appointed monitor of the church's morals, kept sticking her nose in to other people's business. Several members did not approve of her extra curricular activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence.

She made a mistake, however, when she accused George, a new member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his old pickup parked in front of the town's only bar one afternoon. She emphatically told George (and several

others) that everyone seeing it there would know what he was doing.

George, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just turned and walked away. He didn't explain, defend, or deny... he said nothing. Later that evening, George quietly parked his pickup in front of Mildred's

house... walked home... and left it there all night.

Now, that’s the WRONG WAY to handle problems – but over the last several weeks, we gave you THE RIGHT WAY to handle problems

--1. Acknowledge the Problem (Sept. 3)

--2. Making the Right Choices (Sept. 10)

--3. Finding Your Evidence (Sept. 24)

--4. Learning to Listen (Oct. 1)

--5. Patience Works (Nov. 12)

--6. Giving Thanks In All Things (Nov. 19)

--7. The Anointing Is the Difference (Nov. 26)

--8. Conflict Resolution (Dec. 3)

All of these are the ways to go FROM THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION

And as we conclude these messages, I want us to think about the whole idea of problems

And I want to leave you with the thought – WHAT GOOD ARE PROBLEMS?

Now, when it comes to problems, have you ever wondered what good are they? Do they serve a purpose? Is there meaning to…

--accidents

--heartaches

--bankruptcy

--sickness

--death

What good are problems?

Let’s read…

2 Cor. 2:12 through 2 Cor. 2:14 (KJV) 12Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, 13I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. 14Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ…

INTRODUCTION

In our text, this morning, the great Apostle Paul, speaks of both open doors, and of problems

And the truth of the matter is that problems are going to always be a part of life – even when you’re doing all the good you can

Like this young man when he tried to do his best on the job, had to file an accident report

He said…

I am writing in response to your request for additional information. In block #3 of the accident form, I put "trying to do the job alone" as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should explain more fully, and I trust that the following details will be sufficient.

I am a bricklayer by trade. On the date of the accident I was working alone on the roof of a new six story building. When I completed my work, I found that I had about 500 pounds of brick left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley which fortunately was attached to the side of the building at the 6th floor. Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the barrel out, and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly to insure a slow descent of the 500 pounds of brick.

You will note in block #11 of the accident report that I weight 185 pounds. But to by surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate up the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming down. This explains the fractured skull, and broken collar bone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were 2 knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately, by this time, I had regained my presence of mind, and was able to hold tightly to the rope, in spite of my pain.