Treasure in Earthen Vessels

“We have this treasure in earthen vessels...” (2 Corinthians 4:7)

We live in a world of superficiality, artificiality – shallowness. What you see is not always what you get. Promotion and packaging are more important than the product. The pill is sugar coated. Too often cleverly designed wrappings mislead us into buying shoddy, inferior goods. Furniture is veneered, jewellery is plated, we’re plastic coated, cellophane wrapped, leather bound, gilt edged...but strip away all the facade, the hype, the showy presentation and what are you left with? 

Religion is similar. Jesus said the Pharisees were like ‘whited sepulchres’ (bright and shiny on the outside but inside, full of dead men’s bones.) Paul spoke of religion as “having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof.”

 But God’s way is so different from this world’s way.

The sinless spotless eternal son of God in the womb of Mary – Treasure in an earthen vessel.

The weak faltering Peter filled with the Holy Spirit – Treasure in an earthen vessel.

Mary Magdalene (out of whom Jesus cast seven devils) loves and worships Christ – treasure in an earthen vessel.

Saul of Tarsus, Pharisee and persecutor, now Paul the preacher and author of two thirds of the New Testament. – Treasure in an earthen vessel.

God gave Daniel a vision.  Jeremiah a burden.  Isaiah a prophecy.  Paul a revelation.  Peter power.  Solomon wisdom.  John love.  Abraham faith.  All this is treasure in earthen vessels! What treasure has God put in you?

Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Col. 1:7) Word of God in you. (Col. 3:16) Holy Spirit in you. (John 14, 16 & 17) Faith in you. (Rom. 12:3) 

Grace in you. (Rom. 5:17) God’s gifts in you. (Rom. 12:4-8 & 1Cor. 12:4-11)

“We have this treasure in earthen vessels.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)

Would you put your treasure in something so vulnerable as an earthen vessel? Why would God do this? So that He alone gets the glory. 

“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.” This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. (2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT) 

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV)  

This treasure keeps the vessel. (Normally the vessel keeps the treasure!)

“Now unto Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.” (Jude 24)

“We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed...” (2 Corinthains 4:8-9)

God keeps His treasure in clay jars. The vessel may be weak and frail, but it’s filled with inestimable treasure. 

- Pastor David Goudy