Dealing with the Tough Stuff of Life
2 Corinthians 4:8-9, Romans 5:3-5
June 19, 2011
Morning Service
Introduction
One of the classic baseball television shots comes from the 1975 World Series, in which NBC captured Carlton Fisk, jumping up and down, waving his arms, trying to coax his hit to stay fair. It did--for a home run. That colorful close-up would have been missed had the cameraman followed the ball with his camera, as was his responsibility. But the cameraman inside the Fenway Park scoreboard had one eye on a rat that was circling him. So instead of focusing the camera on the ball, he left it on Fisk.
Source Unknown.
When life hits you with problems, you have a choice to make; you can either become bitter or you can become better. The Bible is filled with people who endured the tough stuff of life.
Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers
Jeremiah was thrown into a well
Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt with the infant Jesus
Jesus was betrayed by His disciples: Judas may have turned Him over to the Jewish leaders but the rest turned and ran to save themselves
Peter and John were beaten for preaching the gospel
Paul was beaten and thrown into prison
What kind of tough stuff have you had to deal with?
You experienced the tough stuff of betrayal when your spouse walked out the door and called it quits.
You experienced the tough stuff of sorrow when you stood by the grave of a loved one that had passed away
You experienced the tough stuff of illness when you discovered your need for surgery
You experienced the tough stuff of doubt when you felt like God had left you
Every problem is an opportunity to prove God's power. Every day we encounter countless golden opportunities, brilliantly disguised as insurmountable problems. C. Swindoll
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:7-9
Key words to understand
Hard Pressed (thlibomenoi)
The word means to be squeezed, oppressed, hedged in or troubled.
Paul is describing the daily reality of problems that create an ongoing pressure in life. Paul is talking about a situation that is filled with problems that will not relent.
On every side
Paul is expressing that there were problems in every possible way, at every place and every occasion.
Crushed (strenochoroumenoi)
This word is the root of our English strenuous. The word means to be kept in a narrow, cramped space ¡V to be continually distressed.
Paul makes it clear that while trouble and problems may surround us, we do not have to be overwhelmed by them.
Perplexed means to be at a loss, to be doubting, not knowing or questioning. It is wondering which way to go, what to do, what to say.
Despair means to be hopeless, to have no confidence, no sense of security
We may be persecuted but Christ never forsakes us
Persecution comes in many forms:
Isolation
Slander
Criticism
Imprisonment
Threats
Martyrdom
Never forsaken - God never leaves us alone. He is with us always and is there when we need Him. Christ is there to give us His presence and power.
Struck down - to be smitten or knocked down
Destroyed - to perish, to die
Seven Facts about Problems
Problems are not uncommon
Many times people think that they are the only individuals who are dealing with trials or hardships. While no difficulty is the same for every person, problems are virtually universal. Everyone has problems. Some people have more problems than others but everyone has problems. There is no way to deny it or candy-coat it, we are problem people. We experience problems on a regular basis, sometimes even daily. The more problems that we handle help us to be more prepared for the next one. Never think that somehow, you will come to a time in life when you will be free of problems.
Problems reveal our inner self
Many people try to hide their true selves through an act or some sort of mask they create. There is no way to hide every truth from every person. There is nothing like a problem to unearth the truth that lies beneath the surface of the facade we try to create. We try to show everyone a brave face and fake it through daily life. Problems push through the pleasantries and make us face the depth of ourselves. Problems hold a mirror up to our face to show us who we really are in our inner being.
Problems help us draw closer to God
Problems have a dual nature to them. They can have two polar opposite effects. Problems can either draw us closer to God or they can repel us from God. The difference in the two effects depends on us. When we start trying to rationalize our problems or blame them on God, we lose the opportunity for increased fellowship with Him. When we give our problems back over to God, we surrender them to His grace and we gain His matchless strength moving within us. The result is that the problems are able to draw us closer to God than ever before.
Problems have the potential to build our faith
We need to start viewing our problems as stepping stones instead of stumbling blocks. The perspective that we view our problems often shapes the manner that we react to them. Seeing problems from the perspective that they can help build our faith helps us to get through them. There is never a promise in the Bible for a life free of problems but rather God promises to see us through our problems.
Problems produce character
Character is who we are when no one else is looking. Character is what we have when we lose everything else. Problems can develop character within our lives. The reality is that problems often accelerate the development of character.
Problems help us to encourage others
Problems cause us to experience a number of things that nothing else does. While these are negative in the midst of the problem, God has a way of bringing good out of our problems. We have the ability to have greater sympathy for those in similar situations. Those who have the ability to relate best to those who are going through problems are those who have already been there. God can use the problems and the hardships that we experience to help others through us. Just as we have been given comfort from Christ in our problems, we too can give comfort to others. Giving comfort is simply being willing to come alongside those who are suffering with various problems and lending assistance.
Problems help us to identify with Jesus
Our problems are often far less than anything that Jesus encountered. If God did not spare His own Son from experiencing problems, why do we think that we should be any different? Problems are part of the fabric of life and dealing with them is a universal fact. Problems help us to gain a small understanding of what Jesus went through to secure our salvation. We gain the option of knowing Christ because He sacrificed Himself for us.
Conclusion
What is the treasure that Paul opens the passage with?
Paul clearly tells the Corinthian church that the treasure they have is the personal presence of Jesus in their lives. The treasure that reveals itself in clay pots is the power of the one who conquered death and lives today. The treasure is the power of the resurrection. The same power that lifted Jesus from the jaws of death is working in our lives today.
