How To Solve All Your Problems

How To Solve All Your Problems
(They said it couldn't be done)

1. Put God first.

The world is full of people who put "self" first, ahead of others and ahead of God.
How's that been working for you?

The world is full of problems.
Putting "self" first does not solve one's problems.

Christ, as an example to us, put the interests of God and of others ahead of himself. He was resurrected to eternal life as the "first born", which shows us that eternal life is also ours, if we properly utilize the program.

A. Choose "life", (through repentance and obedience). Deu. 30:15-20.
B. Seek "perfection", (by demonstrating the "fruits of the Holy Spirit" in your daily life). Gen. 17:1, Mat. 5:48, Gal. 5:22-23, Col. 3:12-15, Eph. 5:9.
C. Study, (to prove what is truth, rather than erroneous opinion) . 2 Tim. 2:15.

     Prove what actually constitutes repentance and obedience. Define them. Study them.
     Prove what constitutes true spiritual perfection. What are the "fruits" of God's spirit? Do they describe your behavior?
     Prove for yourself what the Bible actually says, rather than accepting what others allege that it says.

This requires that you read and study for yourself rather than to merely accept what someone else says. Acts 17:10-11.

Study, to learn the principles given in God's "Owner's and Operator's Manual" for your human body.
It is called "the Bible", which simply means "the books".

In the simplest form there is only one rule, "love" (Rom. 13:10, Gal. 5:14).

In the next to simplest form there are only two rules, "love God" and "love your neighbor as yourself" (Mk. 12:28-31, Lev. 19:18, Deu. 6:5).

In the third level there are only ten rules, the first four show love toward God, the last six show love toward "neighbor".
They are known as the Ten Commandments. (1 Jn. 2:3-4, 1 Jn. 4:7-12, 16, 21, 5:2-3, 2 Jn. 1:5-6, Rev. 14:12, 22:14).

On the next level, the entire Bible has been preserved to explain the one (or two, or ten) rules in greater detail by positive and negative examples, by explanation, by exhortation, by promises, by rewards or punishments, and by commands. (Mat. 4:4, 2 Tim. 3:16).

But at any level, it is still as simple as one rule, Love.

There are only two choices, Life or Death. (Deu. 30:15).

Our Father makes one recommendation, Choose Life! (Deu. 30:19).

2. Put others ahead of yourself.

Lay down your (daily) life for others. John 15:13. According to Christ, putting your own physical (daily) life ahead of others is the way to lose eternal life. (Mat. 10:39, 16:24-26; Luke 9:23-25, 17:33; John 12:25, 15:13).

It is only by sacrificing your own life on a daily basis for others that you can gain eternal life.
"Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it." (Lk. 17:33).

For every decision you make today, you will either put God and others first or you will put yourself first.

Every decision you make is a matter of choosing life or death.

3. Believe.

A. That God exists. (Only "the fool has said there is no God", Psa. 14:1, 53:1)
B. That the Bible contains every principle you need to live life successfully. ("live by every word of God", Deu. 8:3, Mat. 4:4)
C. That Christ meant what he said as opposed to what others say he meant ("believe me for the very works' sake." Jn. 14:11, Jn. 3:2, 10:38) ("many shall come in my name", "believe them not" Mat 24:5, 23, 26, Mk. 13:6, 21, Lk. 21:8).
D. That God will stand behind every promise he made in the Bible. (God is faithful, Deu. 7:9, 1 Cor. 1:9).
E. That God will listen to you, but only under certain conditions. (God hears if we seek him with our whole heart, Deu. 4:29, Jer. 29:13, "to this man will I look", Isa. 66:2)
F. That God can answer you in various ways. (by a voice, by inspiration, answered prayer, dreams, visions, miracles, or by speaking through others).

4. Do the seemingly impossible. Have faith.

Faith that, with God's help, you can do the seemingly impossible, which includes having that much faith.
This is part of believing that Christ was not a liar.
(Heb. 11:1, Mk. 9:23-24, Mat. 19:26, Mat. 17:20, Lk. 17:6).

When the son of man returns shall he find faith in the earth? Lk 18:8.

5. Understand, and always keep in mind, the purpose of human life.

Making the constant choice of life or death. Deu. 30:19.

Life is not primarily about money, things, pleasure or "feeling good". Those are incidental and they often affect our choices in the wrong way.
(1 Tim. 6:10, Mat. 16:26, Pro. 19:22).

Life is about "choosing life".

6. Understand, and keep in mind, the purpose of "trials" and human suffering.

Achieving perfection in faith by patience. (Lk. 21:19, Rom. 5:3-4).

The "trial" or suffering is not always the problem that needs solving. (Job 1:13-22, 2:7-10, 42:1-6, Jas. 4:1).

Job's loss of his children, loss of his livestock and income, and loss of his health were physical problems allowed by God, so that he could understand and overcome his more serious problem of self-righteousness. Before his trials, Job was "righteous" by human standards, particularly his own, but he wasn't fully converted and his trials did not end until he understood and acknowledged what God was trying to show him.

Understand that the real solution to the problem is not always to escape it.

Jhn 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

God's purpose, the purpose of life, is not that we escape all trials, but that we escape eternal death.

7. Solve the (real) problem.

A. Write down the problem in a single, simple sentence. If you cannot do this in a single sentence, then you are either looking at more than one problem, or you are looking at the factors and not the problem itself. Underneath, list all relevant factors of the problem, using the simplest terms. You may have to ask for help in properly defining or understanding the real problem.

B. For each factor of the problem, list all your options to deal with or to change each factor.

C. For each option choice, list all the pros and cons of each choice.

D. Talk to God about the problem(s) and the possible solution(s), being "constant(ly) in prayer" (Rom. 12:12). "Praying always . . ." (Eph. 6:18). Pray as if your life depended upon it (Deu. 4:29, Jer. 29:13).

E. "Seek wise counsel" (Pro. 11:14) from knowledgeable or experienced people and sources, not just someone who tells you what you want to hear, nor just from a "pastor" (who may have little or no knowledge outside of his organization's approved doctrines).

F. Put God first in choosing a course of action and in every decision (see No. 1, above).

G. Put the best interests of others ahead of your own in choosing a course of action (see No. 2, above).

H. Believe the promises (see No. 3, above).

I. Have faith. "Lord, help my unbelief." (Mark 9:24) (see No. 4, above).

J. Understanding the purpose of life and the purpose of "trials", keep in mind that the trial or suffering is not always the real problem. This is one reason prayers aren't always answered. (see Nos. 5 and 6, above)

K. Take whatever action is necessary. Beginning with the simplest options, make your choices and deal with or change each factor until the problem is resolved.

L. "Rejoice always." One of the promises is that you will have no unbearable trial (1 Cor. 10:13) . Problems and trials should make us stronger. In any case, they are "nothing" compared to what God offers us if we face them successfully. Sometimes the solution is to properly and patiently "endure" the problem, for instance, the problem that human life is temporary, the problems that come with age, injury or illness, or the problems of a world ruled by humans and influenced by Satan.

"Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;" Rom. 12:12.

" . . . [If] I have not charity [love], I am nothing. . . .
Charity [love] suffers long, and is kind; charity [love] envys not; charity [love] vaunts not itself, is not puffed up,
Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil;
Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Cor. 13:1-5, 7.

Enduring all things is proof of our love, without which, we are "nothing" in the sight of God.

All problems fall under one or more of the following categories:

A. Human relationships: family, social, school or work.
B. Physical situations or conditions.
C. Economic problems.
D. Health: physical or mental.
E. Having a right relationship with God. This directly affects items A-D and our ability to solve them and/or endure them.

If this sounds overly simplistic, keep in mind that Christ came to make life easier for those who are willing to listen.

Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

How easy is it to believe that the earth is round even though, from a tall building or an airplane, it looks flat?

All that God and Christ require of us is that we believe and properly respond to their words and promises. It is easier than believing that the world is round. It is the easiest thing you shall ever do. But it may seem like the hardest thing you have ever tried to do.

We did not invent these principles. We found them in scripture by personal study. We have observed their effectiveness firsthand and from the real-life examples of others. They work if none are omitted and if they are done wholeheartedly. Anything less doesn't seem to work at all. This is also from personal experience and observation.

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