Factors!

What are the three main factors that keep us from fixing problems?

…Complacency…

There are some people who would rather be murmured against than fix the problem. If that is the case, then they should never complain that people are murmuring against them. Sure, fixing problems takes energy. Sometimes, it might appear to be easier just to stay stuck, not move forward and just let the murmurers murmer, but that solves nothing. As a God follower, we ought to give much effort to fixing problems so that we might give others – no matter how poorly they have talked about us – a chance to do what is right.

I think that is what Paul is talking about in 1st Corinthians 10:32, “Do not cause anyone to stumble…”

…Then There is Regret…

Sometimes, some of us are so embarrassed over the fact that we have not dealt with a problem for so long that the regret that we feel inside overpowers our ambitions to move forward and deal with problems once and for all. This morning, no matter how poorly people have talked about you and no matter how long you have put it off, today is the first day of the rest of your life.

Isaiah 43:19 tells us that God wants to do a new thing in all of our lives and a part of that new thing is to move toward fixing problems no matter how much “anti-you” murmuring has taken place.

…What about Distraction…

It is hard to fix problems when we are so busy being distracted by every little thing that someone is saying about us.  Sometimes, it is tempting for some to divert attention away from the big thing that God wants them to deal with and use the murmuring of others as an excuse to not fix things.

What does David say in Psalm 128:1, “Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him.”  If we wait to act in obedience and fix problems until every relationship in our lives is perfect, we will never fix any problem!