We can find solutions to life's challenges right in the scriptures! They aren't just ancient writings that we throw aside, thinking it's for anyone but us. They are especially for us at this time in the world! For each of the following common challenges, I will write the counsel from Philippians that Paul gives that I would use to resolve it:
- People sometimes argue and complain over petty matters in church meetings or throughout the week (see Philippians 2:1–8, 14–15).
Paul advises us to be Christlike, to think on Him and to have his love. He advises the saints to achieve unity and set aside selfishness and consider others' needs. He says to "do all things without murmurings and disputings" so that we can be blameless before God at the last day.
- Many youth feel that their parents’ testimony is sufficient for them. Since they have good parents, they rely on them for all their spiritual strength (see Philippians 2:12–15).
Paul says that we need to "work out [our] own salvation" which cannot be done if we are relying on our parents' testimonies. We have to have God "worketh in [us]" ourselves, not just have Him work in our parents and think that that will be enough. Paul does not mean we can save ourselves by work alone, but that the grace of God is what ultimately saves us. He is just counseling us that we need to do all we can on our part to do what God has commanded us before the grace of God ultimately saves us. We cannot be saved without working on our own salvation, rather than relying on someone else.
- An investigator is considering joining the Church, but his family will no longer associate with him if he does (see Philippians 3:7–16; 4:13).
Paul puts it beautifully when he says, "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord...forgetting those things which are behind...I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Paul doesn't care about the losses that he will come across for obeying and following Christ. He is so uplifted and grateful for having Christ in his life that everything he lost don't seem like losses to him anymore because through Christ, we "can do all things."
"Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do."
This writing assignment is an example of the principle taught in 2 Nephi 32:3 because it says, "Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." When we are studying and reading the scriptures, we are feasting on the words of Christ. We are actively seeking to find answers to what we should be doing in our lives; and they will tell us what we should be doing every single time.
