Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday October 28, 2008

One of my complaints about the ministry is the constant bombardment of problems, problems with this, that or the other and each problem representing a group more interested in the solving the problem than maintaining the welfare of the whole. Please keep in mind that I really do think the worst day of ministry beats the best day at over the road trucking or any number of real work (a member's term) jobs.

Early Monday morning, long before sunrise or the waking of those with the problems, I fussed my way through the points of this coming Sunday's sermons attempting to sharpen them and organize said sermons into a form understandable by sound bite junkies.

As I progressed through this thrilling journey, a statement by H.L. Mencken leaped off the page and I thought, "My readers need this, as they too are up thinking through the problems of others, over which they have no real control." Here is our gem for today:

"For every problem there is a solution that is simple, elegant, and wrong."

After reading Mencken's statement, I browsed through the notes I had made for solutions to the bag of problems I had carried home the night before, and with a little musing threw my solutions to the round file and started over.

The big thing with problems is that we too often attempt to solve problems with the improper part of our makeup. Emotionally "solved" problems really are not solved at all and we soon realize that we may feel good about the solution, but the problem remains while all we have done is deaden a certain part of ourselves to its reality. This is called denial. Secondly, we assume that because the consequence phase of the problems did not immediately rap us upside the head, that we are getting a pass on this one. The third enormous mistake in solving the problem is asking someone who has experienced the problem. This is a horrible way to go at problems. It is better to ask someone who has experienced the problem and had a positive solution.

I know a man who uses a simple, yet largely unused method in solving problems. He first writes out the nature of the problem, then searches to see if there is a similar problem identified in the scripture, then writes out the biblical definition of the problem and the biblical solutions. He then asks, "How can I fit this solution to my problem?" The answer will come.

Let me ask you, "Is your problem spiritual, financial, or physical?" You might be surprised if you honestly evaluate how many of your problems are actually spiritual.

When you think, not feel that you have reached a solution, it is imperative to check your solution against what the scriptures teach concerning the subject. For instance many "financial" problems are actually rooted in greed or pride, with many being the result of over committing financially in the longing for acceptance by others.

I like a statement by Winston Churchill concerning really tremendous problems:

"The destiny of mankind is not decided by material computation. When great causes are on the move in the world, we learn that we are spirits, not animals."

When are you facing and seeking solutions to problems, always keep Paul's instruction to Timothy in the inner sanctum of your heart: 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2008 Use with credit.

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