Strength for the Journey: 2 Corinthians 4:6-7: Treasure in Earthen Vessels

As we grow older we become more and more aware of our weakness, but the good news is that even in our weak selves, God has hidden a precious jewel.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:6-7: TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS

INTRODUCTION

This is an earthen vessel, or we could call it a clay pot. It isn’t very valuable. It didn’t cost very much. It is made out of nothing but clay from the ground.
Probably the clay with which this pot is made cost less than a dime. But the potter who made it did a nice job, didn’t he. He made something beautiful and useful.

In Bible times they used earthenware pots for many things.

They used clay jars where we would use cans, bottles, cardboard boxes, and crates.
They stored grain and olive oil, ointment, perfume, and wine in clay jars.
Their lamps were little closed dishes with two openings in the top, one for putting in the oil and one for the wick to come through.
They used clay jars to draw water with and store water in.
The Dead Sea scrolls were stored in large clay jars.

The main things that archeologists dig up as they explore ancient sites are not coins or statues or ornaments, but pieces of pottery. The sites of ancient cities are full of pieces of pottery.
Archeologists date their other findings by the style of the pottery.

In his second letter to the Corinthians Paul used the clay pot—the earthen vessel—to teach us a very important lesson.

2 Corinthians 4:6-7:
For it is 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 Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.

I. Why do you think Paul compares us to earthen vessels?

A. Earthen vessels are not very strong. If we drop them, they break.

Even the strongest man or woman on earth, can be made helpless by a little germ, or by falling down the stairs, or by some malfunction of a tiny organ or nerve in our body.

We are like clay pots because we are not strong in ourselves.
We need to depend on God. Only God can give us the strength we need to live.

Do you know why all the heroes in the Bible have serious flaws?
It’s because weak, flawed people are all God has to work with. All the perfect people are in heaven.

B. Another way we are like earthen vessels is that we are made of the same materials as the dirt under our feet.

On the second page of the Bible we read: “The Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).
Whenever we get to thinking we’re somebody, we need to remember that we are dust.
In the next chapter, the Lord God tells Adam: “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

But if knowing that we come from the dust humbles us, it can also encourage us.

In Psalm 103 we read these comforting words:

“God does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor requite us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father pities his children,
so the Lord pities those who fear him.
For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust” (vv10-14).

It is a comfort to me to know that God knows my weakness. He remembers that I am dust.

C. Earthen vessels aren’t very valuable. A porcelain vase may be valuable, but an earthen vessel is pretty cheap.

The clay they are made of is dug from the earth.
If you have ever seen a potter working at his wheel?
You know how fast they can make a pot. They call it “throwing” and I’ve seen potters make beautiful pots in a five minutes.
That’s why earthenware is usually inexpensive.
Maybe Paul is reminding us that in ourselves we aren’t precious. When God made man, he wasn’t precious until God breathed into him the breath of life. Then he became a living soul.

The important thing isn’t what we’re made of. The important thing is that God breathed into us the breath of life.

Within our bodies---made of clay—is the breath of life.
And that makes us precious, doesn’t it?

II. But that’s not the treasure Paul is telling us about.

A. Look at the first part that I read: “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 Christ.”

What is so valuable that is held within the little clay pot?
Paul calls it “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God.”

In the third sentence in the Bible God says, “Let there be light.” That was the light that gives life to everything on earth.
But there’s another kind of light. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world, the one who follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

To have Jesus in my life is to have light in my life—the light of salvation—and all that that light brings into my life—hope of glory, peace, joy, love…

Our spiritual life is the most precious thing in the world to you and me.
Our spiritual life is like a precious jewel we hold within the clay pot that is our life.

Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.
One day he found one of such beauty and value that he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
To know Jesus and have the assurance of eternal life is of more value than everything else we own, even if we were multi-billionaires.
Never let anything allow you to lose you hold on this most precious possession.

We must give attention to nurturing our spiritual life, so that we can be always close to God and the flame of his love will burn brightly in our lives.
We have talked about these things many times: prayer, fellowship with other believers, church attendance, Bible reading, conversing with others about our faith.

III. But there’s one thing more to learn from our text: “We have this treasure in earthen vessels to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.” Some versions say, “the surpassing greatness of his power,” “this extraordinary power,” “the immensity of the power.”

A. We always need to remember that the power comes from God.

Of all people, we should know our weakness. In ourselves we are weak.
We depend on God for life and strength.
We depend on God for strength to live for him.
In ourselves we are weak and sinful.

It is only by God’s power in us that we can love as we ought to love.
It is only with God’s help that we can live obedient lives, faithful to God’s word.
It is only with God’s help that we can be patient in the midst of trouble.
It is only by leaning on God that we can keep trusting in him through the times of weakness and pain.
It is only by holding God in our hearts that we can keep hope bright.
It is only by God’s love shining in us that we can draw others to Jesus.

B. Paul calls it the “transcendent power” because the power of God goes beyond anything we can experience on our own. God’s power is so great that words cannot express it.

Sometimes young Christians wonder why so many of the most intelligent and learned and powerful people in the world are not believers.
Paul wrote this in one of his letters: “Consider your call, brothers and sisters, not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth; but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”

We must never take credit for what God has done for us.
This teaches us to be humble.
It teaches us to give God the credit.
If you haven’t made some of the mistakes other people have made…
if you aren’t guilty of some of the sins you see around you,
if you begin to see holiness coming into your life…
if you have a sweet sense of God in your life…
remember that all this comes from God.
This should keep us humble, thankful, dependent.

CONCLUSION

There is a legend preachers often use. You may have heard it.
The story is that after Jesus returned to glory after his resurrection on earth, the angel Gabriel approached him and asked, “Master, do they know all about how you loved them and what you did for them?”
“No,” replied Jesus, “not yet. Right now only a few people in Palestine know.”
Gabriel was perplexed: “What have you done to get out the word?”
Jesus said, “I’ve asked Peter and John and Mary and Martha and a bunch of others to tell about me. They will tell some, and the ones they tell will pass the word to others, and eventually the whole world will hear.
Gabriel looked skeptical. He knew about what poor stuff men and women were made of. He said, “What if Peter denies you again? What if they all run away again when danger comes? What if they grow weary? Do you have another plan?”
Jesus answered, “No, I don’t have another plan. I’m counting on them.”

And Jesus is counting on you and me too.

We have a treasure, the gospel of the glory of God.
As we live for Jesus, the light of the gospel shines out and others can see the gift.
Let’s make sure they do.