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Problem Solving 101 Introduction: Life is filled with challenges and problems. We call relate to Job in Job 14.1 “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. I do not know of anyone that does not have some problems. I have heard it said that if we could all take our problems and place them into individual piles that we would gladly take our pile back home. The difference in people is not the problem but how we handle the problem. Think of this as a basic 5 step approach to solving problems. A) Acknowledgment a. Get beyond the denial stage i. Many deny health problems, family problems, money problems, etc ii. The first thing we have to do is admit a problem exist 1. To confess means to say the same thing as, 1 John 1.9 2. AA starts each meeting requiring its members to stand up, say their name, and then admit to being an alcoholic. b. Take responsibility for your actions i. Some things may be your fault and some things may not be your fault. 1. Prodigal son acknowledged his sin, Luke 15.21 2. The father did not take the blame for the sins of his son 3. Ezekiel 18.20 each person is responsible for their individual action ii. This requires us to honestly evaluate our role, to communicate with those around us, James 1.19 iii. Before you blame someone else look at yourself. B) Be Committed To Solving The Problem a. The solution must really be a solution i. You would not use a Band-Aid on a compound fracture ii. You would not amputate it either. iii. In other words, do not do to little and do not over react. b. Understanding what the problem really is i. People often argue over the wrong things, on side issues. Ex. Arguing over leaving dishes in the sink when the problem is money. ii. Argue with the one involved, do not take your anger out on somebody else c. Seek a scriptural solution i. Many “solutions” are not really solutions, Jeremiah 10.23;Proverbs 14.12 ii. Example: Cherish with cats and Noah. C) Requires Studiying The Word of God And Understanding The Principles a. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for nick picking and not obeying the meaning of the law, Matthew 23.23 i. What does the Bible say about anger? Ephesians 4.26,27 ii. What does the Bible say about gossip? Proverbs, Colossians 4.6; Matthew 12.37 iii. What does the Bible say about money, family, work, etc? b. Be committed to “solving the problem” i. If sin is involved then confess your sins, James 5.16 ii. If not then deal with it before it becomes sinful c. Trust God’s word i. Discipline requires faith, Hebrews 12.11 ii. Money, Matthew 6.31-32 iii. Family, Ephesians 5.22ff D) Ask For And Grant Forgiveness a. Why should I? Matthew 6.14; Luke 17.4 i. Because God said so ii. Because you will need forgiveness in the future iii. Because it makes you more like Jesus b. With the asking comes repentance. i. This needs to be stressed because repentance is more than sorrow ii. It requires the right kind of sorrow and conviction. The effort to not sin and to do whatever God says to do. E) Work At Solving The Problem One At A Time a. One problem at a time i. That may be hard because we usually have multiple problems: anger, laziness, language, etc. ii. Once a problem is handled go on to the next. b. One day at a time i. That is all we have anyway. ii. Don’t look back or to the future but to what you are going to do today. Conclusion: Do you remember the true story of a young boy injured in a school fire. It was thought he would never walk again. He was determined to walk, so he overcame his physical problems. He would run everywhere he went. He ran his way into the Olympics. The greatest problem we have is not having enough faith to solve our problems. |