Clay Jars

“Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7 CSB)

The treasure Paul is talking about above is the glory of God, the light of God, the mercy of God, the truth of God, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. These are priceless. They are treasure that surpasses anything we might consider treasure, essentially because they are living treasures. They have the dynamic to change our lives.

How interesting that God is then willing for us to have these treasures in “clay jars,” which is a metaphorical description of who we are. We are souls, and we have bodies composed of “the dust of the earth.” Clay, essentially. That is, our bodies are composed of basic elements, physically speaking, which are made organic by the power and will of God. God created us, in other words, and He created us from what amounts to ordinary dirt. And it is in this “dirt” jars that God allows His treasure, and now, our treasure to be placed.

God’s purpose in doing this is to show everyone else that the power of glory, light, mercy, truth, and the gospel has nothing to do with the clay jars in which they reside. God wants everyone to see that these treasures come from Him, and that they reside in us. Consequently, He wants everyone to see that those same treasures can reside in them as well. That is what honors Him and His purposes.

Further, this is what makes it possible for us to then deal with the perplexities of life. Glory, light, mercy, truth and the gospel bring order out of chaos, and then bring even an eternal order, focusing our lives beyond life’s perplexities and difficulties, while enabling us to deal with them effectively at the same time.

Only one response will do here: thank You, Lord.

Father, Your wisdom is beyond our ability to comprehend, but we recognize that in Your infinite wisdom You have allowed us to have these treasures in clay jars, so that You might be honored and glorified. We each join in the heavenly chorus that sings praise to You, and we offer our thanks to You. Amen.