In this our third article about having a trouble free life, we reach the reach the pinnacle of the subject.  We have discussed being content with such things as we have and not being self centered. In order to do well in these areas we must focus inward upon ourselves and our inner being.  What motivates us to do things?  What causes us to make the decisions we do in life?  Why do we struggle and wrestle with temptations and weaknesses?  All of these things can be answered by thinking inwardly instead of thinking outwardly.  Please consider these thoughts with me.

The Problem

People are constantly looking outward for the solution to their problems and rarely looking inward.  Drunkenness often stems from trying to remedy some feeling of sadness or guilt that never seems to go away.  Others try to fix their problems by changing things that surround them.  Perhaps they decide they need new friends, a different job, a different car, house or even a different spouse.  However, they never seem to find that certain something that fixes the turmoil they constantly face.  Looking to external remedies results in a never ending struggle.  Why?  Because most of our problems are caused by they way we think about and react to the external things.  Let's continue to examine the problem.

People rarely look inward for the source of their problems.  Think of the things that people blame their troubles on...

• Society - Society has made me what I am or driven me to be this way
• Parents - I was just raised that way or I'm like this because my parents abused me
• Peer Pressure - I felt pressured by others so I did this

People are also apt to ease their conscience by looking outward to situations that others place themselves in...

• Better than other individuals - I may have faults but I'm much better than my neighbor across the street. &nbspHe is a worthless drunk!
• Better than other groups - At lease we don't practice like some of the institutionalized religious groups
• Meet social norms - Most people accept doing this so I see nothing wrong with it.

Look at the problems this kind of thinking can cause.  Many blame their shortcomings on others as Aaron did...

Exodus 32:21-22 KJVR And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them? (22) And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.

Aaron took Moses' line of questioning to place the full blame of what happened on the people but he certainly played the biggest part.  Aaron collected the gold, Aaron created the calf, Aaron said, "this be thy gods, O Isreal, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."  Aaron built an alter before the calf and made the proclamation, "Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord."  Aaron had the power to tell the people that they should continue to be patient and wait for Moses to return.  Instead he caved but he could not see his wrong, he instead blamed it all on others.

Many people do not see their faults or their needs because they look at others and see that they are in relatively fine shape.  Consider the Pharisee who prayed...

Luke 18:11-12 KJVR The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. (12) I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

This man had no awareness of his own spiritual weakness.  He was too busy noticing the unjustness of others to see the problem of pride and self-righteousness in his life.  Consider also the church at Laodicea...

Revelation 3:17 KJVR Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Just think, all this time they thought they were rich and needed nothing.  How sad that they could not recognize their situation.  Unfortunately, many people will never recognize the error of their ways...

Matthew 7:21-23 KJVR Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Just think of the terror of realizing that all you have worked for and done was in vain because you could not see that you were in error.  It is a terrible thought and so we must be careful that we are aware of ourselves and of the innermost part of our being.

The Remedy

The remedy to this problem is to turn the focus of our problems away from external sources and instead examine ourselves.  What people do not often realize is that we must first change the way we think about and react to things external to ourselves before we can adjust the external source.  Once we change they way we think and react, the changes to external elements of our lives will change naturally.  For example, people addicted to nicotine or alcohol will not be able to rid themselves of it until they desire to strongly enough.  Recovery can only come through changing the inward thinking about the problem.  Our spiritual troubles and voids, as well, stem from the lack of inward attentiveness.  The Bible instruct us that we are to spend time reflecting upon ourselves. James teaches...

James 1:23-24 KJVR For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: (24) For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Part of looking inward is making sure that we are doing the things we need to be doing.  That is what James instructs.  When we only listen to God's word and do not place it in our lives, we forget the kind of person we should be.  Naturally, this leads to unhappiness and a troubled life.  We are also instructed to examine ourselves.

2 Corinthians 13:5 KJVR Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

If we are truly trying to examine and prove ourselves, we must look inwardly to make sure that we are spiritually right.  To do this it is important to know how to examine and prove ourselves.  We cannot compare ourselves to others or to social norms.  We must compare our inner thinking and reasoning with the scriptures.  2 Timothy 2:15 teaches "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

No one is going to be able to judge our inner thoughts for us.  Philippians instructs us to work things out for ourselves but it also teaches us in what manner.

Philippians 2:12 KJVR Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

It takes a fearful, serious heart to truly allow one to see themselves for what they really are.  We must approach our self evaluations in such a manner.  Failure to do this will lead us to see ourselves in a proud fashion as the pharisee from Luke 18.  We must be realistic and realize that we can always improve upon what good we have already established in our lives.

Conclusion

Thank you for continuing in reading this series of articles.  I hope that this article will help you focus on yourself when working on problems you have in life.  In the next article we will discuss how fogginess can make for a trouble free life.  I encourage you to continue reading and studying these topics.