Tracing Problems To Root Causes

Everyone has problems in life. Sometimes they can be overwhelming. I have found out that most of my problems are what I call surface problems. And most of those will disappear when I take care of the root problems.

Surface Problems: surface problems are the visible results of inward conflict.

(James 4:1) From whence are wars and contentions among you? Are they not hence, from your concupiscences (a desire of the lower appetite contrary to reason), which war in your members?

Some results of this inner conflict are Illnesses, wrong priorities,financial problems, lying, stealing, cheating, arguing.

Surface Causes: surface causes are the inward results of building our live and affections around that which is only temporal.

( I Timothy 6:9) For they that will become rich, fall into temptation, and into the snare of the devil, and into many unprofitable and hurtful desires, which drown men into destruction and perdition.

Some examples of surface causes are Insecurity, worry, anger, envy, jealousy, tension.
Surface problems are just that....surface. They are only signs of a Root problem.

Root Problems: These problems are actually at the source of multitudes of surface problems and surface causes. When these are solved many surface problems and causes are also resolved.

An illustration of a Root problem is greed for money and possessions. Believing that a man's life consists in the things which he possesses. You dont have to have possessions or money to have a greed for them. Just see what happens when you don't have any money or you don't have a possession you think you need.

(I Timothy 6:10) For the desire of money is the root of all evils; which some coveting have erred from the faith, and have entangled themselves in many sorrows.

(Proverbs 28:22) A man, that maketh haste to be rich, and envieth others, is ignorant that poverty shall come upon him.

Root Causes: The root problems are a result of a root cause.

And that cause is resisting God's grace. Grace is that which God gives us to follow His principle of life, (which we find from Scripture and the Church), principle that are both temporal and eternal.

We can see the root causes when we refuse to dedicate our personal rights and possessions, or the lack there of, to God. We get the ideal that these rights and possessions belong to us, and that we have the final right to use them as we choose.
These surface and root problems show a lack of maturity as Catholics and as men and women.