2 Corinthians 4:7
But
we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is
from God and not from us.
One
of my favorite images in the Bible is Paul’s reference to us as jars of clay.
It is an image I can identify with. Paul’s image of a jar of clay tapped into
the common life of the people he was writing to. Every household had several
clay jars that they would use for carrying water, storing food, or storing
other objects. The famous Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in clay jars hidden
in a cave. We know that when invading armies came, many people would take their
most valuable possessions, place them in a clay jar, and bury them in the
ground, with the hope that they would be able to come back later and dig them
up. Jesus used this concept in Matthew 13:44 to illustrate the Kingdom of God. "The
kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he
hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that
field.” This is the same image Paul is using in this passage. The
treasure that he is referring to is the light of the knowledge of the glory of
God. The treasure within our clay jars is the truth of the Gospel; our salvation
and relationship with God through Christ.
I
want to go back to the clay jar. Clay jars are serviceable, but they are also
slightly fragile. A clay jar can easily be broken. As I have been doing some
self-examination lately, I have come to realize that my clay jar has more than
a few chips and cracks. The obvious cracks are physical. I have far more aches
and pains now than I used to. At our recent 125th anniversary
celebration several people told me that I have not changed, but I know that
they are wrong. When I look back at pictures of myself, I can see the obvious
physical changes that have taken place.
What
is not so obvious are the emotional chips and cracks. Over the past 35 years of
ministry, I have accumulated quite a few. Every time a family leaves our
church, for good reasons or bad, I feel it deeply. Every time I have to deal
with a family in crisis, I feel another chip broken off. Every time a young
person drifts away from the faith, I feel another crack forming. Every time I
fail to fully live up to my commitment to Christ, I sense another crack
forming. I can identify with Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 11:28-29. Besides
everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who
is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly
burn? The longer I have served in the church, the more keenly I feel
the weight and burden of it.
Now
here is the good news! The treasure that is within my jar of clay is stronger
than the forces pressing against it. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to
show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard
pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted,
but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in
our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in
our body. (2 Corinthians 4:7-10) As I look back over 35 years of
ministry, I can honestly say that what Paul wrote is true in my life. There
were many times when I thought my jar of clay was going to break into pieces. But
Christ sustained me, even though I sustained a few more chips and cracks. He is
the one who continues to hold me together.
More
and more, the thing that energizes me and keeps me going is an increasingly clearer
vision of eternity. It is eternity that puts all of the struggles of life into
perspective. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:19, If only for this life we have
hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. If there is
nothing more than this life, then all of our struggles are for nothing. But the
reality of eternity changes all of that. So Paul can say with confidence that
all the chips and cracks are worth it. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though
outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For
our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far
outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is
unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2
Corinthians 4:16-18
We
are all simple jars of clay. The decorations on the outside may be different.
Some of us are decorated with elaborate patterns of line and color. Some of us
are plain and simple. But under the surface, we are all simple jars of clay.
Our strength does not come from the decorations on the outside, but from the
treasure on the inside. As long as we are filled with the glory of Christ, the
pressures of the world cannot overcome us.
1 John 4:4
You,
dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in
you is greater than the one who is in the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment