Treasure in Earthen Vessels, part 1

Sermon Notes

July 13, 2008

Rev. Jim O’Neal, Senior Pastor

Sun Lakes United Methodist Church

9248 E. Riggs Road, Sun Lakes, Arizona 85248

(480) 895-8766

II Corinthians 4:5-10 NRSV

⁵For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. ⁶For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

⁷But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. ⁸We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.

A. Introduction

1. Ann Landers

a. A woman named Marge wrote a letter to advice columnist Ann Landers. She wrote: “Dear Ann: I’m 44 years old, my husband is the same age and he’s a swell guy. We get along fine and he treats me well. He’s not a drinker, gambler, or a skirt chaser. He has a good job and our home is paid for. Our children are healthy and normal. They do well in school and even though they are teenagers have never caused us any trouble. So why am I writing? Because my life is blah. Something is missing. It’s like stew without salt. I feel a certain emptiness. What is it? Yours, Marge.”

b. Many people struggle, even when life is seemingly good, to find happiness and meaning . Too many people long for the inner peace and abiding joy.

2. Today’s Scripture: II Corinthians 4:6

a. Today’s Scripture lesson offers us hope. Yes life is not always easy. And like clay pots or earthen vessels we humans know the pain of brokenness, and realize just how fragile life can be. Yet God’s promise is there: “God once said, ‘Let the light shine out of the darkness!’ And this is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts. He gave us light by letting us know the glory of God that is in the face of Christ.” (II Corinthians 4:6 ICB)

b. There is hope for us. It is not far off. It is as near as our hearts. Through the Spirit of Jesus Christ, God’s glory, meaning, purpose and joy are offered to us. Today, I begin a two part sermon series discussing the treasure in earthen vessels. Friends know the truth that the treasure of happiness is within each of us. Look inside, see God’s light within you and know the joy of Jesus!

B. The treasure of happiness is not somewhere “out there.”

1. Ziggy Comic Strip

a. Too many people think that they can find happiness outside themselves. They think: “I could be happy if only I had a better job, lived in a better neighborhood, had a thinner body, traveled overseas, had designer clothes, a new automobile, a beach front condo, more money, or if I met Mr. or Ms. Right. And the list goes on and on. We buy all sorts of self help books and tune into the latest talk show host guru for advice. And we hope that somehow, sometime, somewhere we can position ourselves for just the right moment and happiness will be ours.

b. Too often we end up like poor Ziggy in the Comic Strips. Ziggy sits alone on a park bench at night gazing at the moon, and he says: “I’ve been here and I’ve been there. I’ve been up and I’ve been down. I’ve been in and I’ve been out. I’ve been around and I’ve been about. But not once, not even once, have I ever been ‘where it’s at’!” If only we could be at that place where happiness is, then we would be satisfied. But somehow it evades us. And that is because happiness is NOT somewhere out there.

2. Couple in marriage counseling

a. Too many of us are like the woman who was in marriage counseling with her husband. The psychiatrist asked her, “And what would you like to tell your husband?” She looked at her husband and said, “MAKE ME HAPPY.”

b. Others cannot ultimately make us happy. People and events outside of us in the final analysis are not the source of our joy.

3. Andy Gibb

a. “Having it all” does not make you happy. Remember Andy Gibb? He was a pop music star in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, who is best remembered for his disco music. He was young, handsome and talented. Gibb was just 19 and fresh from Australia in 1977 when his first single, I JUST WANT TO BE YOUR EVERYTHING, hit the top of the charts. He was nominated for two Grammys that year and made more than $2 million. The following year he made another million dollars. He is the only solo performer ever to have his first three singles top out at number one on the music charts! Gibb had sold some 15 million records worldwide by the time he was 21 years old. Then, as easily as the money came to him, it went. Sadly much of his wealth was spent supporting his cocaine habit. In 1985 he sought treatment and it looked like he had finally put drugs behind him. He then went to live near his older Beegee brothers in Miami. By that time his fortune was gone and he filed for bankruptcy. His debts totaled more than 1.5 million dollars. In 1988 in an attempt to revive his career he went to London. There he celebrated his thirtieth birthday, and shortly after that felt sick and went to the hospital. A few days later he was dead. The official cause of death was listed as heart failure. Doctors tell us that even a small amount of cocaine can permanently damage the heart.

b. So what happened to Andy Gibb? Friends say that he had a great emptiness within. You can have it all and not really have anything worth having. Too many people die, and if not literally, emotionally and spiritually chasing after that elusive thing called happiness. Have you learned the truth: The treasure of happiness is NOT somewhere “out there.”

C. The treasure of happiness is inside of you!

1. International Happiness Day

a. “Happiness is inside of you.” That’s what was proclaimed by the organizers of International Happiness Day. This past Thursday, July 10, 2008 people were encouraged to celebrate and embrace happiness. People from about two-hundred nations participated and the goal was to get 1 million people worldwide involved in Happiness Day Celebrations. Folks were encouraged to organize and invite their friends to a Happiness Day party, to join or organize an ongoing Happiness Club, to wear “Happiness T-Shirts,” to turn on their computers and listen to a web cam presentation from a number of happiness experts, and to write their political leaders encouraging them to seek peace and happiness in our world. Press releases proclaimed that “happiness is a choice that is available to everyone.” A happiness expert named Miami Phillips said this: “Too many people believe that finding happiness is as simple as finding something else they want. In my experience, no one has ever found long term happiness by achieving another goal. Ultimately, to find happiness is to invest the effort to look within yourself.”

b. Now even if you did not celebrate International Happiness Day, or would never wear a Happiness Day “Smiley Face” T Shirt, you have to admit this truth proclaimed by the organizers of Happiness Day: “Happiness is an inside job.” And indeed, these folks are in the company of some truly wise people.

2. Abe Lincoln

a. Abraham Lincoln understood this. He once said: “People are generally about as happy as they’ve made up their minds to be.”

b. Inner joy and peace are things that each one must find within themselves. You must work on this thing called happiness yourself, as honest Abe reminds us. However, it is not as simple as willing yourself to be happy. While happiness is found within; by yourself you cannot find it.

3. Today’s Scripture: II Corinthians 4:7-9

a. Paul in the Holy Bible clarifies the situation. He says this: “But this precious treasure — this light and power that now shine within us — is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own.” (II Corinthians 4:7 NLT) Further to emphasize that happiness is not determined by other people, or our circumstances Paul states this truth concerning himself and the early Christians: “We are troubled but not crushed, frustrated but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed.” (II Corinthians 4:8-9 ISV)

b. The Bible is clear. Happiness is not out there. Circumstances, things, and other people cannot make you happy, nor can any of these rob you of true joy. Happiness is something you journey within yourself to find. However, do not misunderstand. You will not find happiness alone. While true joy is found within; by yourself you cannot find the treasure of happiness. Ultimately you find the treasure of happiness by looking up! You find real joy in relationship to God.

D. Conclusion

1. This week, we have shared these truths concerning happiness:

a. The treasure of happiness is not somewhere “out there.”

b. The treasure of happiness is inside of you!

2. Next Sunday, we continue our journey concerning how to find the treasure of happiness by affirming these two truths:

a. You cannot by yourself find the treasure of happiness.

b. Ultimately you can only find the treasure of happiness by looking up!

Treasure in Earthen Vessels

1. The treasure of happiness is not somewhere “out there.”

2. The treasure of happiness is inside of you!

3. You cannot by yourself find the treasure of happiness.

4. Ultimately you can only find the treasure of happiness

by looking up!

II Corinthians 4:5-10 NRSV