2 Corinthians 4:7 - “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”
Jars are fragile things. They break easily. Jars of clay are also cheap things. They are not made of fine china or expensive ivory. Paul says he and his Apostolic band are like jars of clay- lowly, humble, weak & vulnerable. And he says this is God's design. God delights to use weak men, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not man.
the Lord is pleased to choose the humblest, and lowliest, and weakest servants to carry His transforming truth. He has put the priceless treasure of new covenant-saving gospel truth in clay pots.
God finds pleasure in clay pots, in which to place His glorious, treasured truth. And Jesus, in Matthew 11: 25, said, “I praise Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou didst hide these things from the wise and intelligent, and didst reveal them to babes. For, Father, it was thus well-pleasing in Your sight.”
1. We, the earthen vessel-“Jars of Clay”
In biblical times, earthen vessels were:
Common household items/Inexpensive/Easily broken/Easily replaced
They were not decorative. They were functional (for service)
Paul is saying:
We are human, not divine/We are limited, not limitless/We are fragile, not flawless
God does not deny our weakness; He works through it.
God uses jars of clay to carry the precious gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s something like a small little plastic case to keep a 10million pound worth diamond piece.
People spread their garments before a donkey, they spread flowers on it’s way, they honoured it! Donkey thought it for a moment. These people who despised me all these years, my master who has ill treated me until yesterday, the children who mocked me- now they are honouring me! Why? I am carrying the most precious King (Lord Jesus) on my back! (Matthew 21:7-11)
God uses ordinary men and women. This is so that no one will steal God's glory when people are being saved.
All of us, at one time or another and some more than others, fear that our weakness is a barrier to God’s purposes.
It’s so easy to fall into the trap of thinking that if God wants to accomplish something of greatness he needs great people to do it. He needs, and will choose, people with power, personality, charisma, money, people who are physically impressive and verbally eloquent, people whose names appear regularly in the newspapers or on the blogs.
I’m not suggesting that such people are of no use to God or that their earthly achievements can’t be redeemed for the sake of the kingdom. But they do have one distinct disadvantage. They are far more prone to take for themselves credit that belongs to God.
Weak people apologize far more than they boast. Strong people, beautiful people, people with money and status, are more inclined to draw attention to themselves and divert praise from the One to whom all glory is due.
Make no mistake about it, God is determined to secure all the glory for himself! Our ultimate joy is dependent on God being God.
This alone makes sense of Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians 4:7 - “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”
He was keenly aware of his shortcomings, his lack of eloquence, as well as his physical frailty. “If I must boast,” said Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:30, “I will boast of the things that show my weakness.”
2. The Treasure We Carry
Paul says, “We have this treasure…”
The treasure includes:
The gospel of Jesus Christ- this is not simply a news- it’s the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes (Rom 1:16)
Why we feel Gospel to be powerless, because we don’t give way for God to work. We put our human cleverness, eloquence, presentation and tactics before people. We don’t trust in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Until that alabaster box broken, nobody ever knew there was perfume in that box.
Angel asked Cornelius to sent for Peter. Peter would be able to explain the Gospel better than the angel. Why? He had experienced the saving power of the gospel and the power rests in him.
The knowledge of God’s glory- Colossians 1:27
“Christ in you, the hope of glory”
After the day of Pentecost, we know wherever the disciples went people see the presence of God through them with power and convictions. Why because, God was dwelling in them. People were liberated from sin and sickness. Demons were scared to face them- they were ordinary people before but now they carry Christ in them.
The indwelling power of the Holy Spirit- 1 Corinthians 6:19/3:16
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”
They were walking temples of God. They were worshipping the Lord all the time. Whatever they did, lead others to worship the Lord.
Darkness left before them. Wherever they had gone, the territory of the devil and demons shook. The evil authority became powerless and exposed before the mighty work of the Holy Spirit.
You have the resurrection and eternal life in you- 1 John 5:13
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life”
We are people with eternal life. We are not ordinary. We are chosen by the Almighty God to be His children. We are the coheirs of Christ in eternal inheritance.
But don’t trade your spiritual birth right for a bowl of soup like Easu did. Don’t forfeit your eternal destiny for the pleasure of your flesh like Samson did. Don’t lose your eternal calling for the cheap reward of the world like Judas.
Devil is after you- you compromise for your wife, you compromise for your husband, you compromise for your children, your parents- you want to make them happy!
You will never know- how much you have missed the heavenly fortunes until you leave this earth.
This treasure is heavenly, placed inside something earthly.
Truth: Your value is not based on how strong the vessel looks, but on how precious the treasure is.
3. Why God Chose Weak Containers
Paul explains the reason:
“That the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
If God used strong people, the glory would go to people.
If God used flawless vessels, pride would replace worship.
But when God uses weak people
Pride is crushed/ Faith is strengthened/ God receives the glory
This is consistent throughout Scripture:
If you study through the scriptures, we see anyone God used for His glory- He used them after allowing circumstances in their lives that had broken them.
Moses was broken for 40 years before he was used as God’s leader
David was led through tough circumstances and was brought to a place where he totally depended on God alone.
Peter was was broken through his failures where he denied the Lord 3 times though he was warned about it by the Lord (Matthew 26/Mark 14/Luke 22/ John 18)
Paul had a “thorn” in the flesh to break him (2 Corinthians 12:7)
4. Remaining as a broken vessel
2 Corinthians 12:9
“Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest up on me”
How should this truth shape our lives?
a. Walk in humility
We recognize that every good thing comes from God.
b. Depend on God’s strength
We stop pretending and start trusting.
c. Guard the treasure
We protect our spiritual life through prayer, Scripture, and obedience.
d. Stay available
A simple vessel in God’s hands is more powerful than a strong vessel in its own hands.
