Clay Pots

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us”
(2 Corinthians 4:7).

Introduction

One of the most amazing truths found in God’s word is found in our text. God fills fallen man, when he repents, with the treasure of Heaven. Nevertheless, from the richest to the poorest of us, no matter how we dress ourselves up, we are all clay pots. “A splendid treasure was placed in a fragile, cheap earthen vessel” (The People’s New Testament). But, we must be careful not to go to the other extreme and say, “I am useless. I have no talents. I cannot do anything for God.” The treasure is in us, but not of us.

God is the potter who created the pots we live in. “Behold, I belong to God like you; I too have been formed out of the clay” (Job 33:6) … “Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand” (Jeremiah 18:6).

The treasure

The treasure is not a thing but a Person. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). He alone is the embodiment of Divine glory because He is God Himself. “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:4) … “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3) … “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14) … “Who is the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). God did not just give us a book to read, but also a Person to follow. This Person came in human flesh, to undergo all that man does, and to teach us to obey God’s will. “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God” (Hebrews 10:7).

This treasure has to be received into hearts free from ambition and pride. “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5). This means that it exists where there are no impure motives or human glory. “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God” (2 Corinthians 4:2). The treasure can never be found in a godless person. “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost” (2 Corinthians 4:3).

The glory of this treasure can affect other people’s lives too. “For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:15) … “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain” (Philippians 2:15-16) … “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

The pot

Only the rich had ornate and glazed vessels in those days. Most people had terracotta cups, pots, and other vessels. Paul uses this fact to show that whatever weakness exists, it is to be found in the flesh. It is the flesh that continues to let God and us down. This is why we are in a constant battle with our human nature. “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). The pot is weaker than the treasure it holds. Adam Clarke, in his commentary, wrote, “The light and salvation of God in the soul of man is a heavenly treasure in a very mean casket.”

While we live on this earth we will continue to strive to make our commitment to the Lord stronger, and look to that day when the treasure will be in vessels of gold instead of clay. “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23). Until that day, as long as we continue to follow Christ, God is working and moulding us into shape. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13) … “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21). The clay pot is not going to be transformed here on earth. “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:51-53).

Conclusion

Because God's glory is revealed in Jesus Christ and the message of the gospel has been entrusted to us, the heavenly treasure is stored in human flesh – vessels of clay. The Christian should not trust his own power and ability, or become discouraged when things appear to go wrong, instead he should seek and rely on God's strength. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). God cannot be honoured by our lives if we strut about thinking that we can do it all by ourselves. We must decrease and Christ must increase (see John 3:30). In this way we will pass from glory to glory, as by the Spirit we are changed into the image of Jesus Christ. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).