THERE REALLY IS NO WAY we can elude problems. At every turn and bend, we are bound to meet one. Truly so for our earthly journey is never a smooth one. Ours is not a worry-free world. And we cannot afford to stop on track seeing a problem looming in the distance. We have to move forward and risk an encounter as there could be no other way out. Making a detour or backtracking, as the case may be, is not a guarantee that we won’t be meeting the same problem, or another one for that matter, elsewhere. We may even find ourselves in a tighter situation.

So when a problem comes along, no matter how trivial it may be, there is no recourse but to work out a solution. Yes, for there is no way that the problem is getting away from us unless it has been dealt with accordingly. And problems, when not solved, have a way of recurring, or haunting people, as others would put it, with even more devastating effects. So the earlier we are done with one, the better. Successfully getting through a dilemma, we can heave a sigh of relief. And with a shrug of the shoulders we could then whistle, “Whew! That was close.”

The best thing to do when you have a problem is to meet it head-on. But how? “Well, if you have money, you can buy yourself out!” says the rich. “Having a brilliant mind would be to your advantage,” says the learned. In reality, both have found themselves many times over in a fix. Many rich people, and educated ones at that, have, in fact, a hard time figuring out how they can possibly come out of a gripping situation unscathed or without any scratch. Simply stated: wealth and knowledge are no guarantee to a problem-free life. They are not the best moorings in life.

What man should understand

“The Lord says: ‘The wise should not boast of their wisdom, nor the strong of their strength, nor the rich of their wealth. If any want to boast, they should boast that they know and understand me, because my love is constant, and I do what is just and right. These are the things that please me. I, the Lord, have spoken.’” (Jer. 9:23-24 Good News Bible)

Basing on the verse cited, man ought to recognize God as his best stronghold—a fortress—in life. Rightfully so for having created the humankind, God knows what’s best for them. Corollary to that, man should not boast of any of his accomplishments, for, “What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless” (Eccles. 2:22-23 New International Version).

Then comes the stark realization:

“You work for something with all your wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and then you have to leave it all to someone who hasn’t had to work for it. It is useless, and it isn’t right!” (Eccles. 2:21 GNB)

The root cause
But why has man fallen into a problem-filled existence? God says, “Listen, earth! As punishment for all their schemes I am bringing ruin on these people, because they have rejected my teaching and have not obeyed my words” (Jer. 6:19 GNB).

Worse, “The wicked tell God to leave them alone; they don’t want to know his will for their lives” (Job 21:14 GNB).

Not a bit remorseful, there are those who “think there is no need to serve God nor any advantage in praying to him” (Job 21:15 GNB).

There lies the cause of man’s problematic existence: he has rejected God’s words and there are those who even deny His very existence. Don’t atheists downrightly question God’s very existence? No wonder, God’s verdict is: “I am bringing ruin on these people because they have rejected my teaching and have not obeyed my words.”

But are atheists the only ones guilty of such offense? How about those who are in organized religions? Those who profess belief in God? How flawed have many become? In his second letter to Timothy, Apostle Paul made this prophetic pronouncement to his co-worker in the Church, thus:

“The time will come when people will not listen to sound doctrine, but will follow their own desires and will collect for themselves more and more teachers who will tell them what they are itching to hear. They will turn away from listening to the truth and give their attention to legends.” (II Tim. 4:3-4 GNB)

Wasn’t Apostle Paul sounding off a warning? People may be in organized religions, but more as a matter of convenience as they listen only to that which they are itching to hear. Aren’t there preachers who advocate so convenient a concept of salvation—that of just having faith in Christ? That Church membership is no longer necessary? That there is no need to listen to a messenger?