Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. Job 14:1

Everyone has problems. Life is filled with them. We solve one problem, and there is another before you can turn around. Sometimes there is more than one problem at a time. If you have lived in this old world very long you know this to be true. Some problems are more serious than others. We can have financial problems, health, marriage, and even job problems.

Businesses have problems too. Trying to operate their business and make a profit when sometimes the markets are up, and sometimes they're down. Paying their help, licenses, taxes and upkeep must be carefully managed in order to stay in business. Nations also have problems. They too have more than one at a time. They need money for defense against enemies, to repair roads, bridges, fund education, pay government employees, and on and on the list could go.

Problems are an issue for all of us. This is a world with much struggle. Some of our problems cannot be helped. That is the nature of living in this world that has the curse of sin upon it. There is no way to avoid some of them. For instance, our health at times will fail. Equipment will wear out and need to be replaced, and usually right when we need it the most. Jobs are not always secure and layoffs happen in the real world, causing money problems. This in turn can result in strain on a marriage.

However, many of our problems are of our own making. Our unwise decisions cause us many heartaches. What makes it so bad is we turn around and make the same mistake again. We buy too much and overspend, or go in debt before we know it. Let's take the liquor industry for example. No one is an alcoholic until they take their first drink, then another and then another. Finally that person is addicted to alcohol. The liquor companies are not going to tell anyone what the side effects of their products will do. They never tell about those who lose their health, wealth, marriage, possessions, career and become slaves to liquor, living a miserable defeated life. Millions of people who may never go that far, nevertheless, are enslaved to these products. They would never let it be known how wretched their life is and how they wish they had never, ever drank a drop. The same can be said of the cigarette companies to some degree, and even of eating if we are not careful. We can create our own problems and they can be complicated.

So sometimes we are our own worst enemy when it comes to trouble. Getting sound advice from others is often helpful if we are willing to listen. Sometimes we think we know best and wind up regretting that we did not listen. Yes, there is a great deal of advice available if we are willing to accept it. It is available for all of us and it is free. Now that solves a problem there doesn't it? Yes, there is free, dependable information out there, and much of it never fails to work. But do we want it?

Some of the problems we have are the result of our lifestyle. We are living the way we want to and not the way we should. What is happening more than we may even be willing to admit is we are being judged or chastened because of our disobedience by our Creator and he wants us to change our ways. You see, none of us can get by with sin! Especially if we are Christian people. We will be dealt with before those who are not believers in Christ. So God allows and sends trouble and problems because of our disobedience.

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Hebrews 12:6

What is the biggest problem of our country, business and individuals? There is one fundamental serious problem. We have left the teaching of God's Word out of our lives and that means we are cutting short the blessings of God. Too many know it, but they do not live by it. They live by what they "feel" or "think." Living by God's Word does not mean you will not have trouble. We will, because Satan will make sure of that. Consider Job of the Old Testament, for instance. Our problems can be fewer and less serious than Job's, and God will bless us. But we must first realize that the problems we have, we are bringing on ourselves when we live independent of God.

On the other hand, our troubles are designed to teach us that we need someone greater than ourselves. Someone we are not to live independent of; God! He made us all for himself and we will not be satisfied or complete until we are in a right relationship with him. When trouble does come our way, whether we have brought it on ourselves or not, there is One we can turn to.

The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Psalms 9:9

Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. Psalms 22:11

And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Psalms 50:15

In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me. Psalms 86:7

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.
Psalms 91:15

Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily. Psalms 102:2

Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. Psalms 107:6

The Lord wants to help us if we will call upon him. He loves and cares for us. He is always ready to strengthen, comfort, and deliver us according to his will and purpose. In order for him to do that, we must repent of our sin and live as he tells us in his Word. How blessed we are to have One who is able and willing to help out when trouble befalls us.

The Bible is the Word of God. It is a manual that reveals how to successfully live in this sin cursed world. When we deny ourselves of its wisdom whether as a person, business, or nation, we are robbing ourselves and creating problems we would not have had, if we would follow the guide the Lord gave us. Really that is a dumb thing to do and yet we do it!!!

Every time I get a new vehicle, I get a manual with it to tell me how to care for it and use it. If I should ignore the part of the manual on how to service it, I will create some problems down the road I would not have had if I had followed the manual's instructions. Suppose I decided to use transmission oil in the engine and motor oil in the transmission? Do you suppose it would be ok? Of course not! Those oils are designed to effect specific parts of the motor and transmission differently. And the oil lines can become stopped up because the oils may not handle the temperatures. Your life and mine will not work well living as we want to and doing what we want. We were not designed by our Creator that way. The Bible tells us how to have the best life and one with less problems. We say we want it better in life and yet we choose to make it worse.

And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. John 5:40

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. John 20:31

Isn't it strange that so many are willing to live as they do knowing there is help and yet rejecting it? Just because they want to live their own way. Our Lord is willing to help if we will only listen to his Word. His Word will change lives for better, never to make them worse. As I have said, his advice is free!!!

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 1 John 2:28

This scripture indicates that many believers will be ashamed when they stand before the Lord. Only those who have lived in fellowship with the Lord by obeying his Word will not be ashamed.

Do you have problems today? Are they of your own making? Even if they are not, God is available and you are encouraged in the scriptures to call on him. So seek the Lord for help and trust him to make a way for you. Remember, God will use problems to teach us and cause us to draw closer to him. But we must respond to our problems in the proper manner by turning to him. God will also use our afflictions to help us become more like Christ. That is God's goal for us in life.

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. Colossians 3:8-10

Now do you have a problem doing that? If you don't do that, you will end up with a bigger problem one day when you stand before the Lord for judgment.

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

The rich man of Luke sixteen had a problem that he could not overcome. No longer was there any help available for him, ever! He had a sin problem that he did nothing about, and he died and went to hell. Lazarus, though a very poor man, made his peace with God and now rests in Paradise enjoying the blessings of the Lord, forever.

The sin of failing to live by the Word of God is very expensive and serious, whether it is a person, business, or country. We as a country have been the most Christian nation on earth for some years and we are the most blessed of all nations on earth. But if we continue to turn from allowing the Bible to guide and influence us, we will deteriorate into a second rate power in the world and lose our liberties. Father, let us realize you are readily available for your children during the trials of life. Help us to learn to seek you first. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen, Preacher