Treasures and Turmoil

(To listen to this message, click on the play button of the audio player shown above.)

This is a sermon given at Wayside Community Church on July 29, 2012. It was based on the Scripture 2 Corinthians 4:7-18.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

As I try to determine the will of God for the messages I bring, I do try to maintain a balance in the themes that I emphasize in my ministry. One of the things that I try to do periodically is present a message that inspires hope and faith.

As a pastor that has the responsibility to instruct and motivate people to a greater level of discipleship and a deeper level of love for the Lord, it can be appealing to make most of my sermons focus on who we ought to be or where we ought to be going or what we ought to be doing. Those kinds of messages are certainly necessary and hopefully helpful. But, a steady diet of that can begin to cause people to be discouraged, as it begins to seem that we are never achieving.

So, today I felt drawn to this passage of scripture that I hope will inspire some fresh hope and renewed faith in every one of us. With the help of God’s Spirit today, I want to bring a message that lifts your spirits to a renewed confidence in God and that inspires each of us to keep faithfully serving our Lord until He calls us home.

The two contrasting words I have used in my title seem to emphasize the stark contrast that the Apostle used in these verses before us today. On the one hand he speaks of a treasure. On the other hand, he immediately begins to speak in terms that I think are best described with the word turmoil.

Whenever we think of the word treasure, we usually do not think of trouble. And, when we think of the word turmoil, we do not usually think of treasures. But, Paul shows a clear connection to the two concepts in our passage we are considering today.

As we consider this passage today I want to emphasize

The treasure - I. We have a treasure.

The vessel - II. We are earthen vessels.

The turmoil - III. We experience turmoil and trouble.

The victory – IV. But not destroyed.

I. We have a treasure.

A. The treasure represents the message of the gospel.

The word is probably a reference back to the preceding verse where the apostle uses the phrase, “… the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” This knowledge, that is akin to a light suddenly coming on in the darkest surroundings, has been explained and developed in all of the verses leading up to verse 7.

B. The treasure did not originate with us; it was given to us.

Let us never forget, dear friends, that this gospel, this treasure, this knowledge is purely a gift of divine grace.

II. We are earthen vessels.

Our normal conclusion regarding such a rich treasure is that God would keep it, store it, or protect it in containers that are perfect and completely indestructible. Yet, this is not the case.

“earthen” – a word that Greek language scholars say is derived from the word that is used for the shell of an oyster. Thus, is implies something fragile or even brittle.

“vessel” – a common word that had different uses depending on the context. It is translated 19 times as “vessel,” but it is also translated twice with the word “goods,” once as “stuff,” and once as “sail.”

Some believe that Paul is alluding to an ancient custom of storing gold and silver in earthenware pots. (JH Bernard, Expos. Gk. NT)

His point seems to be this…

A. We are human.

We are made from dust.

We are “clay in the potter’s hand”.

We are mere flesh and bones.

Although, this doesn’t seem to be Paul’s point here, it is worth mentioning that this analogy seems to run parallel to the fact that God chose to become incarnate in human flesh. The treasure of the Godhead was wrapped in the earthen vessel of human flesh. (JH Bernard)

B. We are flawed.

We are limited, finite, weak, fragile, etc, etc. We are unlikely vessels for such a valuable treasure, but God has entrusted it with us. God has granted us the awesome privilege of carrying the knowledge of the gospel that is described like a bright light shining into a room of darkest ignorance.

III. We experience turmoil and trouble.

Immediately after declaring that we have been entrusted with this awesome treasure, the Apostle switches his focus to the struggles we face.

As I said at the beginning… whenever we think of the word treasure, we usually do not think of trouble. And, when we think of the word turmoil, we do not usually think of treasures. But, Paul shows a clear connection between the two concepts here.

A. Trouble is just a fact of life.

It is undeniably and unavoidably a part of our earthly journey. You can’t get to the end of this journey without experiencing some kind of trouble and turmoil. Some people have the mistaken idea that if we are Christians and we are trying to obey the Lord and live a good life then we should be exempt from trouble, suffering and turmoil.

But… our world has been deeply infected by the consequences of sin ever since the Garden of Eden. The curse which came about as a result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience has only heightened and worsened through time.

We are a part of this earthly environment. And we will also be affected by the curse of sickness, death, trouble, evil, and all other consequences of sin. This world never will again be a paradise, no matter what the earth-worshippers and environmentalists fanatics or others may say!

B. Sometimes, trouble seems to get progressively worse and compounded.

Look at the description Paul uses in verses 8 & 9.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NKJV) [emphasis added]
⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--

Adam Clarke concurs with others by assuming that Paul’s language here is referring to the athletic games or contests that would have been common knowledge for his readers. In any case, he is using figurative language to draw an analogy to life’s experiences, and more particularly his own experiences.

Notice what he describes later on in this letter, chapter 11.

2 Corinthians 11:23-27 (NKJV)
²³ Are they ministers of Christ?--I speak as a fool--I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. ²⁴ From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; ²⁶ in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷ in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness--

There are many times in life when we feel like we are squeezed nearly to death, perplexed or in doubt, persecuted (pursued, chased), and knocked down all at the same time.

Have you been there? Many of us have felt like this at various times in our lives. But, I’m glad Paul’s message doesn’t end here.

IV. We triumph in victory.

Look again at Paul’s words in verses 8 and 9.

In every description of adversity he gives, he balances it with a word of hope.

We may be squeezed in, pressed, or beset with trouble on every side, but we are not crushed, distressed or straitened.

We may be in doubt and perplexed, but we have not given up in complete despair or given up our faith.

We may be persecuted (pursued, chased like an animal) but we have not been forsaken or abandoned by God.

We may be knocked down, but we haven’t been destroyed, killed or lost.

In all of these troubles, there is a ray of hope. There is a ray of light. God hasn’t abandoned us.

Look at verses 11-15.

2 Corinthians 4:11-14 (NKJV) [emphasis added]
¹¹ For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹² So then death is working in us, but life in you. ¹³ And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.