Kingdom Principle: God gives simple solutions to complex problems.

This post was updated on 3/13/15.

Numbers 21:4-9 Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 Ephesians 2:1-10 John 3:14-21

I have read many books on the topics of leadership each approaching the answer through a different lenses some theology, others psychology, and even anthropology. That in itself needs to be explained in a blog post. However here – I want to touch on the point that there are simple solutions to complex problems. The reality is that in all these books the goal is to bring an answer or new way of approaching leadership – the simple answer is love.  From theology – love is a gift from God and in leadership, a leader must be directed by that love rather than any other love to truly lead for God. From psychology – love is an emotion and it must be disciplined and directed for without clarity on why you love, you may lead from the wrong motives leading to unwanted results. From anthropology love is a relationship of origin and it must be cultivated and universally understood therefore showing you the way to lead other people. But in reality it is quite simple to lead you must love.   I love James 4:7 – it makes it very simple – Submit to God, Resist the Devil. I love Romans 10:9 Confess – Jesus is Lord, Believe God raised him from the dead, and you will be saved.  I love that Jesus’ word to the disciples from the beginning to the end of the Gospels ( Mark 1:17/ John 21:19) are only two words – Follow me.

It is not wonder that the world has seen the most simple solution as the answer at every major sporting event, behind the backstop and at the top of the grandstand, and behind all major news worthy gatherings – a large poster board declaring: JOHN 3:16. This most simple truth is the answer to a most complex problem. Asked in the covering of night – How can I be born again…..?  The world has heard – WHO SO EVER….  And from there we have added all the complexities of theology, psychology and anthropology and much more. Within the verses today – you can see the complexities of judgment and grace, which are always held together by love.

What problems are you facing today?  Dr. John Gottman – one of my favorite “psychologists to read and follow” describes problems in relationships as either being solvable or perpetual.  (Read an interview with Dr. Gottman regarding problems link) Without going in to detail – basically – you can solve your solvable problems so do so and you need to find ways to live with your perpetual because you won’t be able to solve them. (not because they are difficult, rather their roots lie in unsolvable territory) It’s a simple solution and much like God’s Gift of Grace. Grace is there to teach you how to go forward and powerful enough to cover all things in the past. Yet, grace does not tell you how it does what it does – rather it tells you to get up and live into it.  For the most part people don’t want simple solutions to complex problems – they want complex solutions, because that justifies the problem. We have been justified by faith not works – work is a complex solution.

Examples of our desire for complexity – you can detox and clean your skin by taking an extra minute in the shower to pulse hot water, then switch to cold, then back to hot, back and forth for about a minute. Our skin is a living organism and when you pulse the water from very hot to very cold it activates the cells to regenerate causes toxins to be cleansed. But most would rather spend money on product, or take extensive time through a series of cleanses – The most classic cleanse for our body is to drink more water – but that is way too simple to follow.   From an psychological lens – when you are battling situational depression – you can take drugs or let your body produce drugs internally – (endorphins) going for a walk is a simple solution – but must will chose and “easy” complex solution to take a drug which they have no idea what’s in it – as long as it works.

We all have perpetual problems; at our core we all share in the same nature of an in ability to become perfect in this world. Rather than focusing on the problem focus on the simple solution. Jesus is Lord, and we are to love the Lord. In doing so all else will come into perspective. The challenge of accepting the simple solution – it forces you to accept that the complex problem need not be the focus off your life.  Jesus is the Lord over your problem; it now makes the problem not yours to solve or to fix. He is the King of your reputation, it is not yours to build or secure.

I write this from the crucible of learning that lesson again – God has a simple solution to my complex problem and he has one for you too. Do you want the solution? Then share the problem with him. It is that simple – Cast all of your cares on Him.