Got First World Problems? Pause, Pray, & Praise!

First world problems...we've all heard of them. We've all experienced them.

The Urban Dictionary defines a first world problem as "problems from living in a wealthy, industrialized nation that third worlders would probably roll their eyes at." If we were honest, we'd have to admit that many of our regular complaints likely fall within the realm of first world problems. That does not make them illegitimate, but it does put our problems in perspective.

Just like there are first world problems, there seems to be first world church problems. By "first world church" I mean churches that exist in first world cultures. Here's a list of problems that came to my mind:

• "Someone sat in my seat." 
• "The preacher went long and now there's a half-hour wait at Applebee's."
• "Due to budget cuts, complementary doughnuts will no longer be provided for adult Bible classes."

We can all roll our eyes at the complaints above. But this next list is where it might hit home:

• "I prefer sermons from the New Testament, but it seems like our pastor prefers to preach from the Old Testament."
• "The class leader called upon me to pray. I don't like praying out loud in public."
• "We sang a couple songs today that I didn't know or even like."
• "I thought we should have spent that money differently."

These irritations are often very real and represent potentially legitimate concerns. Yet, recapturing a global perspective can be a great help to us as we work our way through these distresses.

While we are dealing with our issues, we have to recall to mind that across the globe, churches are meeting in secret for fear of persecution, missionaries are laboring to provide a single Bible translation for a people group, and the poverty of some regions prevents local churches from possessing any musical instruments, let alone printed hymnbooks. 

Here's my point. What do you do when you realize you are frustrated by a first world problem or even a first world church problem? (Because we all experience them!) Often our responses are something less than worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we aren't careful these irritations can become quite consuming. 

My suggestion is that we allow these first world problems and first world church problems to lead us to pause, pray, and then praise!

First, pause and gain perspective on your irritation. Is it really something worthy of your righteous indignation? According to Hebrews 13:3, we are to remember those who are in prison for their faith, as if we are bound with them. This remembering would not only help us pray for our suffering brothers and sisters in Christ, but it would also provide us with a healthy context for examining our struggles and situations. When I think of the Christians who are living with the local threat of Isis, my unreliable internet service seems less important.

Second, we should pray that God would forgive us for our tendency to murmur and complain. Philippians 2:14 teaches us to do all things without murmuring. We are too often like the Israelites who complained of manna, instead of thanking God for His gracious provision. I wonder how often my attitude appears to God to be similar to the attitude of a spoiled child complaining about his dinner. If something isn't cooked to your liking, how do you respond?

Finally, we should praise God for how blessed we are to face our first world or first world church problems. I thank God that we are blessed as English speaking people with a multitude of Bible translations, a vast selection of church worship instruments, and abundant freedom to be creative or conservative in our church ministry and methodology. Regardless of our preferences, we are blessed with the opportunity to wrestle with these issues. I may not like the look of the new foyer carpet, but at least we didn't have to have a brick making activity in efforts to build our auditorium. 

As I write this blog entry, I sit in the hospital with my wife Karyn awaiting the arrival of our sixth child. The last nine weeks have been interesting for our family. As I sit here today thinking of our situation, I can't help but identify it as a first world trial. After pausing to consider the nature of our trial, I found my self praying to God to forgive me for my tendency to complain. There are many husbands across the globe that would gladly admit their wife to the hospital for nine weeks to save the life of their newborn and preserve the health of their wife but can't, because there's no hospital within their reach or no means to pay for such care. 

As I finish this post, I feel motivated to praise the Lord for the trial He has brought my family through and all that He has taught us by His grace. Just because it's a first world trial, doesn't mean it is insignificant. Rather, identifying it as a first world trial helps me to maintain a joyful, thankful disposition as I recognize that my trial could be another man's blessing.

Point to Ponder: One man's trial could be another man's blessing.