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There are people who do not have problems, but they all reside six feet under the ground. As long as we live we will have problems and face difficulties.
In the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 there are four rules for dealing with problems. (Mark 6).
Surrounded by people, Jesus and the disciples took a boat attempting to go to a secluded and private place. The crowds anticipated where Jesus was going and were waiting for him when he landed. Jesus had compassion for the people and did not send them away, but taught them.
As is true when listening a great teacher, the time flew by. It late so the disciples became concerned and asked Jesus to send the crowds away so they could get something to eat. There were 5,000 men (besides any women and children) stranded in a wilderness place who needed to eat.
By examining how Jesus solved this story, we can learn four rules for solving our problems.
Rule #1: CONFRONT your problem.
Confronting the problem was not the first impulse of the disciples. Notice their solution to the problem:
“When it was already quite late, His disciples came to Him and said, ‘This place is desolate and it is already quite late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.’ But He answered them, ‘You give them something to eat!’ And they said to Him, ‘Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?’” (Mark 6:35-37).
The Disciples had two answers for the problem:
1. Get rid of the problem by telling them to go away. Mark 6:35-36
2. Throw money at the problem – John 6:7
Neither of those were real solutions, but they are often the favorite solutions of man. Jesus had a better idea – confront and deal with the problem.
Problems don’t get better by ignoring them. I’ve tried it and so have you. To solve a problem you have to confront the problem. You have to confront it, accept it, make a plan, and deal with it. If you don’t it will always be a problem.
RULE #2 – Don’t overlook the SIMPLE resources.
Notice the simple resources the disciples had.
Jesus “said to them, ‘How many loaves do you have? Go look!’ And when they found out, they said, ‘Five, and two fish.’” (Mark 6:38).
This was not nearly enough, but it was something. It was simple, but little is more than enough when God is in it. This is clear as the story continues.
“They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces, and also of the fish. There were five thousand men who ate the loaves.” (Mark 6:42-44).
When you face a problem, do not stare so long at the problem so that you miss even the simple resource that you have. This was the same truth seen in the story of David and Goliath. The soldiers stared at the giant and thought they were defeated. David glanced at the giant and looked toward God and knew he and God could defeat the giant.
God can change your resources from “not nearly enough” to “more than I need.”
RULE #3 – Be THANKFUL in the midst of the problem
While they only had five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus gave thanks. He “Took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated.” (John 6:11).
When Jesus stood at the grave of Lazarus and before Lazarus was raised from the dead, Jesus prayed, “Father, I thank you…” (John 11:41).
Paul urged the Thessalonians, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.” (5:16,18).
Any old heathen can be thankful when a problem is finally solved, but it takes a man or woman of faith to be thankful in the midst of the problem. We are thankful because we know that God has handled our problems before and will handle this problem too. Be thankful. You are not going through this alone.
RULE #4 – Do what you can and trust God with the rest.
The disciples knew there was no human way for this problem to be handled. This is why they counseled Jesus, “Send them away.” There was no human way, but Jesus knew something the disciples did not. He knew that we can do all we can and then trust God for the rest.
We may not like the way God handles the problem, but he always knows the right way. The end of God handling this problem was that they not only feed the thousands, they ended with more than when they began. They started with five loaves and two fish and ended with twelve baskets full of leftovers.
If you will tackle the problem using the simple resources you have and are thankful, God will do for you what you cannot do.
You will have your own baskets full of blessings.
Lonnie Davis
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“I’m sorry” is a feeling.
And it is your feeling. It tells me how you feel, but does not say anything about me. I guess that by you saying “I’m sorry” I should feel mercy for you and for what you did. Is that what you are going for when you say, “I’m sorry?” Don’t get me wrong, you should say “I’m sorry,” but if it stops there, then you have only shared your feelings.
“I won’t do this again” is a promise.
It does not address the past. It addresses the future. It tells me your intentions for the future. I am glad you are planning to do the right thing in the future, but what about the past?
“How can I make things right for you?”
This is the foundation of every real apology. Any so called apology that does not seek to make restitution is exactly that – “a so called apology.” If something you did hurt another, then apologize. Say “I’m sorry.” Promise not to do this again. Let the person know that you are going to make any possible restitution. Let them know! Don’t make them wonder. Granted that there are some occasions where restitution is not possible, but you are going to do everything you can to make all possible amends. Without this, you have not apologized. You have just tried to appease.
For the Godly person, an apology, a real apology, ought to be a natural thing. It involves all three of these elements!
Lonnie
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