Sermon

It always amazes me when I read about a football figure who decides to hold out for more money. With salaries that are often in the millions, they feel underpaid unless they are at the next level. It could be a player - like Christiano Ronaldo; or a manager - like Jose Mourinho; or a presenter - like Gary Lineker.  I heard one player say to a reporter on tv, "It's not about the money. It is about respect." A few moments later, the host of the show made the comment, "When they say it isn't about the money, it's always about the money."

This attitude of grabbing all you can get is not limited to the world of sports. It is part of the fabric of our society. Every one of us wants more. We want a better car. We look for a bigger house. We strive for a larger salary. It never ends. It seems as if our contentment can only come through the acquisition of more and more material things. If you think this is something new, then you need to look back to Paul's second letter to Timothy, that Jane has just read from.

As Paul is giving his final instructions to his young friend, he talks about developing an attitude that will open the door to happiness. Paul has experienced it all in his life and he speaks from personal example. He begins by saying that contentment begins with an attitude.

We all know people who have so many blessings in their lives and yet they seem to be miserable. They are unhappy with their spouses, their jobs, their homes, and even their status in life. Living the charmed life is not a guarantee of bliss. 

Look at the number of celebrities whose lives are in shambles. Affairs, alcohol, and drugs are rampant. We idolize them and think they lead a charmed life, but in fact, just the opposite is often true. They soon find that they have the same insecurities and problems as before and that the money has only added to their problems. That emptiness inside them only seems to grow with the more they have.

Paul tells us in his letter to the Philippians that he has found the secret to contentment. In effect, he is saying, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." 

His happiness comes from knowing and serving Jesus. Paul can be happy, even in prison, because he knows God is with him. He can be happy even though he has been thrown overboard and has lost every material thing he owns, because he still has a purpose for his life. If he ties his future to Christ, then he knows he will come out the victor.

minds me of Jesus' words about our treasures. In Matthew 6:19, he says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal...." But that is just what many of us do and we are disappointed. When our treasure is lost, we are lost as well. But Jesus said to store up your treasure in heaven then you will find your heart and your hope.

Paul's eyes were on heaven so a lot of the normal problems in life did not bother him. He didn't worry about things. He decided that he was going to make the most of things and be happy with the "adventures" that God brought his way. He didn't have to wait until he got out of prison to be happy. He adjusted his attitude and found a reason to be happy in that situation. And so it was all along the way.

You and I can learn from Paul. This is what he was telling Timothy. You don't have to wait until everything in your life is perfect to begin praising God and tasting joy. We can find it now by simply looking at things a little differently. The truth is that if you have been saying, "I'll be happy when...." then you will never be happy. There will always be something that gets in the way.

But if we look to God, we will be happier. Jesus says in Matthew 6, "But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." 

It's kind of like having a best friend. When you share your problems with that person, you feel better. They help you see things in a new light. The friendship itself brings you joy. So it is with God. It is our relationship with God, which is the source of contentment, and nothing else can take his place.

A second point Paul makes in his letter is that thankful people are happy people. I know another minister who makes a list of things he wants to thank God for every day and includes it in his prayers. He starts every day this way. The list is often the same. He never misses a day. He is one of the people you want to be around because he is filled with joy. The list reminds him of his blessings and he can't help but feel good about life when he remembers them at the start of the day.

Contrast this with another person who was always sharing all the "woes" he had in his life. Whenever he walked into the room, it felt like the air was being let out of a balloon. It is no fun being with him.

I know a lot of people will suggest that we are born as either an optimist or a pessimist and there is nothing we can do about it. I disagree. It is learned and comes from the environment in which we grow up. We need to learn to look for the blessings and give thanks.

Even today, in a society that is more secular than religious, Giving Thanks reminds us of what we have and who gave it to us. It helps us to focus on our blessings. We need to do that because we can easily get swept away by a flood of advertising reminding us of what we don't have.

My car is running perfectly fine and I have no desire to give it up until I see an ad for a newer, sleaker, model. I do not even think about buying a new suit until I walk by the window at Moss Brothers and see the sign advertising a sale. Our family home is perfect for us until our neighbour moves into a larger home in a posher neighborhood.

It must have something to do with our human nature. We can't seem to be thankful for what we have. Our eyes are always on what someone else has.

Paul reminds us that we need to keep looking up. We need to recognize where everything comes from. James tells us, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father." That is why we can say with the psalmist, "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." We are content and actually happy because we have a God who cares. He has made us, and he has made our world. He has blessed us beyond our wildest dreams, and out of the gratitude we feel toward God for all his faithful goodness, we want to share the blessings.

That brings me to my third point. Paul suggests to Timothy that we need to have an attitude of generosity if we are to live a blessed life. There was an article in Reader's Digest a couple of years ago, titled "What Good Is a Tree?" It was noted in the story that a certain kind of fungus grows in the ground that allows the roots of the trees, even different kinds of trees, to come together. If one tree has access to water, another to nutrients, and a third to sunlight, the trees have a way to share with one another.

So it is with us. We are stronger individually if we are willing to share what we have with others. Too often, people have the idea that if they cling to what they have, they will be able to take care of their own needs and if they give it away, they will run out and leave themselves in a predicament.

I like the story told of Elijah and his visit to the widow of Zarephath. When he came upon her, she had very little to eat in her house, yet she fed Elijah. She was a little reluctant but she shared it anyway. Miraculously, there was enough food for them all for many days. She learned to trust God. Her trust was rewarded. God kept providing for her as long as she shared what she had with Elijah. 

Then the story takes a twist. Her son gets sick and dies. She is overcome by grief. Elijah goes to the boy and brings him back from the dead. The boy is alive and the woman sings God's praise. I' suspect that woman never doubted God again.

God works in mysterious ways. When you share what you have with others it always comes back to you in a blessing. It may not be monetary. It may not be tit for tat. In God's wisdom, the blessing comes in a form that makes your heart glad. I don't think I've ever seen a generous person lost in despair. They are often the happiest people I know. God keeps blessing them as fast as they can share what they have with others.

There was a man in another church who accepted Christ and decided he was going to start tithing. He figured out ten percent of his income and wrote out a check to the church. That first week his check bounced. He was a little embarrassed but he made it good. He continued writing out checks for ten percent of his income and there were a few more mishaps. 

In time he began contributing the tithe and then made out checks for some special offerings. He also noticed that a few of his shares started gaining rapidly. So he gave away even more. He started funneling some of his newfound wealth into the youth ministry at church. 

One day, he told his pastor that the scriptures were true when they said you cannot outgive God. He tried and God kept blessing him, not only with added wealth but also in the joy he had in seeing a ministry grow. He said he had never been happier in his life.

Happiness has never been about money and possessions. It has to do with finding your place in life and living it. When you walk in the light of God's Word, you will always find peace and joy. You'll develop a glad attitude. Amen.