Comfort-Able Living

HoHum:

“I am the subject of depressions of the spirit so fearful that I hope none of you ever get to such extremes of wretchedness.” Who said this? Charles Spurgeon, a famous preacher from England.

WBTU:

There is an idea out there that Christians should always be happy, always have a smile on their face, always upbeat, always be a ray of sunshine. Makes me sick- let’s get honest- nobody has any problems or hurts?- everybody is happy all the time?

The Corinthians church was a troubled church full of hurting people. In his first letter to them, Paul had to confront all kinds of problems- everything from division to immorality. Unfortunately, after they received this first letter, matters grew worse, and Paul had to make what he called “a painful visit” to confront the troublemakers. Still the problems were not resolved, so Paul sent his coworker, Titus, to Corinth to help them get things straightened out. Finally, after several months, Paul received word from Titus that the church was improving. Paul then wrote what we call 2 Corinthians to express his appreciation for their improvement and to encourage the church to remain faithful. He emphasized the resources available to hurting Christians.

At one time or another everyone needs encouragement. That’s a key word in 2 Corinthians. Sometimes translated comfort, the word is used 29 times in this letter. A poet wrote, “Two men looked out from prison bars, The one saw mud, the other stars.” Whether we see dirt or beauty in life doesn’t depend on our vantage point, but on our perspective.

Thesis: 4 truths from these opening verses that should comfort all of us when life turns sour

For instances:

1. Hardships are part of every life

The 2 greatest human needs met by God are forgiveness and comfort. Everyone is a sinner and needs God’s grace; everyone is a sufferer and needs God’s peace. Suffering is a normal part of every Christian life, just as sin is. Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.” John 16:33.

Our culture today is trying to convince us that we should never have to hurt. There is a theology that supports this called the “Heath and Wealth gospel.” Media ministers will tell us that if we really have a strong faith in God, we will always be happy, healthy and prosperous. The Bible lets us know that since the fall this world is contaminated and suffering is a normal part of life. “He (God the Father) causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:45, NIV. Good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people. Into every life a little rain must fall.

Paul used 2 examples to illustrate that no one is exempt from suffering. The first example is Jesus. “The sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives” 2 Corinthians 1:5. From the beginning of his life, Jesus was lonely and rejected, a victim of criticism, and acquainted with grief. If Jesus was perfect and He suffered, how can we except to be exempt? God had one Son without sin, but He had no sons without suffering. The second example was Paul himself. “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.” 2 Corinthians 1:8, NIV. We might think that pressure is a 21st experience only, because we are under much stress. However, we do not face the kind of pressure that Paul faced. He had to work part time to pay for his missionary trips. He had a thorn in the flesh that kept dragging him down. He endured the tension of constant travel and the disappointment of people who rejected the gospel. His enemies often had contracts out on his life. That’s pressure.

If Jesus suffered (He was perfect), and if Paul suffered (one of the most zealous Christians ever), then so will we. “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.” 1 Peter 4:12, NIV. Happens to everybody

2. Hardships provide an opportunity to receive God’s comfort

We are so egotistical we think we can be self reliant. If we can just make enough money, just get enough education, just belong to enough organizations, just get the right kind of medical procedures and the right kind of pills, we will be just fine. The whole philosophy of humanism is simply that people can rely on themselves. “But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God.” 2 Corinthians 1:9. God occasionally permits hardships in life to knock us to our knees to remind us that, in Jesus’ words, “apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).