HANDLING PROBLEMS

TEACHER'S GUIDE

INTRODUCTION

Even Bible-Literate Christians often carry superfluous, even erroneous Intellectual Baggage when it comes to properly addressing Life's Problems

--- some have come to naively believe that Biblical Instruction will exempt them from problems ... or that all their problems will be solved for them

this naivete, often assimilated through a wider body of faulty theology generally called "Prosperity Gospels" does grave damage to Christianity ... it drives people away from much needed Biblical Instruction

--- others have come to believe that the proper Christian way to deal with problems is to pray them away ... that with enough faith, we can be free from problems, stress, disappointment,

when we buy into this, spirituality starts being measured by our lack of problems instead of our response to them ... exposed to this teaching, one gradually becomes numb to the pain we find in reality

it at least partially explains much self-righteous witness ... ie., we don't really have problems

--- others incorrectly believe all problems are discussed in the Bible

many problems are spoken to, perhaps more than we are aware of ... but too often we attempt to speak authoritatively on issues the Bible does not address

egs., why God permits so much Injustice in Life?

why do some have it easy and others so hard?

PROPOSITION

We need wisdom from God if we are to properly respond to Life's Problems

Read Solomon, where this all-important truth is conveyed via personification ... read proverbs 1:20-32

--- vv20-21, 23 Godly Wisdom is available

--- vv24-25 but can be spurned, though available

--- vv26-32 when rejected, there will be dire consequences

WISDOM IS AVAILABLE

Wisdom shouts ... in the street ... lifts her voice ... in the square ... at the noisy streets ... at the entrance of the gates ... pro 20-21, 23

--- the promise: I will pour out my spirit

I will make my words known to you

--- the prophecy: eze 36:27-28 ... I will put My Spirit within you ... will cause you to walk in My Statutes, My Ordinances

--- the fulfillment: heb 10:15-16 ... the Fulfillment came with the coming of the Holy Spirit

--- the availability: note the key in pro 1:23 ... if you had responded ... the key: obedience, action

wisdom shouts everytime we open our Bibles

--- analogy: Bible as the operating manual for Life yet so many do not bother to look up the manual

Best Illustration ... wisdom re looking for Happiness in the wrong places ... the wrong things

eccl 2:1-3 happiness does not come from the Playboy Lifestyle ... the Epicurean ... ... the pleasure-seeker ... note that Solomon includes both physical and intellectual pleasure-seeking

eccl 2:4-6 happiness does not come from fulfillment through great works ... examples: Donald Trump, Imelda

eccl 2:7-8 happiness does not come from collections ... be they treasures, flocks ... even people

Gems of Wisdom from the scriptures that we often discover only through painful experience

eccl 10:20 slander, even if effective in the short run, will always catch up with you

lk 12:2-3 lies will always find you out, sooner or later

pro 18:17 we tend to be influenced by the last persuasive opinion we hear

pro 17:18 guarantee ... give surety at your risk

pro 22:26-27

pro 23:7 we are what our thought life makes us

WISDOM IS AVAILABLE

BUT IT CAN BE SPURNED

I called and you refused ... I stretched out my hand ... no one paid attention ... You neglected my counsel, my reproof

... pro 1:24-25

Profiles of those who spurn Godly Wisdom ... pro 1:22

--- the simple

Hebrew word carries the idea of a wide open door ... one easily influenced, gullible ... an easy target for every demagogue who comes around

see eph 4:14 ... the key: sound instruction (vv11-13)

--- the scoffer

Hebrew word means to turn aside, to mock, to reject with contempt ... to refuse disdainfully and with disgust

famous scoffers ... Voltaire, Hemingway

know of all others?

--- the fool

not one who lacks intelligence or mental powers ... Hebrew word means one who misuses such faculties ... not one who does not reason ... but rather reasons wrongly ... it carries the idea of moral deficiency ... not intellectual deficiency

ps 14:1 the fool says there is no God

pro 10:8,14 the wise accepts commands, the chattering fool comes to ruin

pro 17:16 a hundred lashes do not impress a fool

pro 18:2 a fool delights in airing his opinions

pro 26:7 proverb to a fool ... like limp legs to a lame man

pro 26:9 proverb to a fool ... like a thorn brush in a drunk's hand

pro 26:11 like a dog returns to vomit, a fool returns to his folly

pro 28:26 he who trusts himself is a fool

lk 12:20 the fool we often see

The opposite profile ... he who would be wise

--- they are willing listeners pro 12:15

13:1

15:31-32

--- they desire to learn and grow pro 9:9

pro 10:14

--- they eagerly seek out and accept pro 12:15

wise counsel pro 13:10

WHEN WISDOM IS REJECTED

THERE WILL BE DIRE CONSEQUENCES

I will laugh at your calamity

I will mock when your dread comes

They will call on me, but I will not answer

They will seek me, but they shall not find me

They shall eat the fruit of their own way

They will be satiated with their own devices