Introduction

In our survey of request for sermon topics, this one was turned in, “Problems: dealing with everyday problems and making the best of the problem.” Studying problems from the Bible is an interesting study. If you can do a computer search of the Bible, this is what you would find. The word problem will not be found in the old King James Version, or the New King James Version, so I switched to the New International Version. Guess what? It doesn’t occur in the NIV either, so let’s try the NASV. The results are the same, so what are we to conclude? There are no problems in the Bible! We could conclude that, or we could check a version with is not very true to the original language. It’s called “The Living Bible.” Guess what, the Living Bible has 20 problems.

As you go through the verses in the Living Bible that use the word problem, what do you find? You find situations that we would describe as problems. So what do we conclude? Are the other four versions wrong? Of course not. The other four versions simple describe things that happened, but the text does not call them problems even though they clearly are problems. Having said that, I hope you’ll understand why none of the verses that we site today will contain the word problem, even though they deal with very real problems.

Body

I. What good can come out of problems?

A. Problems test our faith.

1. Abraham was tested shortly after he arrived in Canaan.

(Gen 12:10 NKJV) Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land.

a. This was a case of seemingly using good judgment to solve a problem.

b. But even so, he didn’t seem to fully trust God to take care of him.

(Gen 12:11-13 NKJV) And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, "Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance. {12} "Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, 'This is his wife'; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. {13} "Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you."

B. Problems open up opportunities for service.

1. Paul’s imprisonment gave him opportunities to preach the gospel.

(Phil 1:12-14 NKJV) But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, {13} so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; {14} and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

C. Problems may be confirmation that we are living for Christ.

(Rom 5:3-4 NKJV) And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; {4} and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

(Rom 5:3-4 NIV) Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; {4} perseverance, character; and character, hope.

II. Problems may be made worse by the way we handle them.

A. We fail to wait patiently for God’s solution

1. Abram and Sarai made a serious mistake by not waiting on God.

(Gen 16:1-3 NKJV) Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. {2} So Sarai said to Abram, "See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her." And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. {3} Then Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan.

a. Matters were made worse for Sarai & Abram.

b. Their “solution” was only a night mare to this very day.

B. We blame others when our solutions fail.

(Gen 16:5 NKJV) Then Sarai said to Abram, "My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The LORD judge between you and me."

1. Who was really to blame for the problem?

2. It was Sarai who had proposed the idea to begin with, but she would not accept the blame for what she had done.

C. We run from problems we should face.

1. Hagar stirred up hostility, and then wasn’t happy over Sarai’s response.

(Gen 16:6-9 NKJV) So Abram said to Sarai, "Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please." And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence. {7} Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. {8} And He said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?" She said, "I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai." {9} The Angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand."

D. We question God’s purposes in our life.

1. Job’s wife was of no value to him when he needed her support.

(Job 2:9-10 NKJV) Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!" {10} But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

III. How do we handle problems properly?

A. How does God want us to respond to problems?

(James 1:2-4 NKJV) My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, {3} knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. {4} But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

B. Realize that problems are inevitable.

1. James doesn’t say if you face trials, but whenever you face them.

2. He assumes that we will have trials and that it is possible to profit from them.

C. Expect to grow as a result of problems.

1. We can’t really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure.

2. It is easy to be kind to others when everything is going well, but can we still be kind when others are treating us unfairly?

3. God wants to make us mature and complete, not to keep us from all pain.

D. Trust God for help even when we cannot see the way.

1. Jesus criticized His disciples for lack of faith when they were overly concerned about their troubles.

(Mat 8:24-26 NKJV) And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. {25} Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" {26} But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

Conclusion

I. Problems are a part of life.

II. The question is, will we be better, just bitter over our problems.

III. If our problems are sins, we need to repent of them and make our lives right.

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