TREASURE IN CLAY JARS
Last week we learned how Paul encouraged us to live
out the New Covenant by not giving up, rejecting sinful deeds, not tricking and
distorting God's word, and telling the truth before God. Then he transitions to
what the believers in Christ contained within themselves, why we go through
hardships and heartaches, and what they accomplish in us and others.
I.
Treasure In Clay Jars
Vs. 7, "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." When we want to store treasure, we look for a solid,
unbreakable iron safe. When God wanted to store His most valuable treasure,
what did He choose to keep it?
The Apostle Paul used an unusual analogy of a clay pot
to show us God's preferred storing place for His treasure. Clay pots were
commonly used in ancient times and in some eastern cultures to hold dry goods
such as flour, seeds, and liquids such as oil, water, and wine.
Also, treasures were frequently concealed in clay jars
which had little value or beauty in themselves and did not attract attention. Paul
uses these commonly seen and readily available clay jars to explain to the
Corinthians a spiritual truth of a treasure of great worth God deposited in
them. What is the treasure, and why has God ordained this treasure should be in
clay jars?
The
Treasure:
What was the Apostle Paul referring to here as "this
great treasure"? The light of the glorious Good News of Jesus Christ that
God graciously shone in our hearts. What do people value or aspire to in our world?
Is it great wealth, success, and prominence?
Jesus challenged that worldly and vain pursuit saying,
"And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own
soul?" Mark 8:36. A rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked him what he
must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus answered, follow the commandments.
The young man responded I've been following them since
my childhood. "Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. "There
is still one thing you haven't done," he told him. "Go and sell all
your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven. Then come, follow me." At this, the man's face fell, and he went
away sad, for he had many possessions." Mark 10:21-22. The apostle Paul
also contends for the rich.
Colossians 2:1-3, "I want you to know how hard I
am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met
me personally. My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in
love so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding in order
that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all
the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
In the book of Revelation, God had a harsh message for
the Laodicean Church that became lukewarm in their love for Christ due to their
riches. They said they were rich and had everything they wanted, yet God viewed
them as wretched, poor, blind, and naked. God challenges them to open their
hearts and let Him come in. Revelation 4:14-22
Some theologians compare the modern-day American
Church to the Laodicean Church. We think we are rich and have everything we
want, yet we are poor and miserable without Christ. On the one hand, people
want to pursue riches and happiness outside of God. On the other hand, our
heavenly father finds great delight in giving his children the Kingdom.
What are you seeking these days? Where are you storing
up treasures? In this world or heaven? If you store up treasures on earth, they
will be robbed, but our treasures in heaven will be safe. Paul reminds us that
we have Jesus, the great treasure in us, but for what reason?
So that we know that our great power is from God, not
from ourselves. This great treasure of Jesus and his message of love is for us
to enjoy and be grateful for, but also we might share it with others.
II
The challenges of sharing the gospel treasure with others.
We looked at how Christ shines his gospel light in our
hearts, and we become the recipients of the treasure, the message of Christ and
Christ himself. Jesus calls us to become His disciples. Tim Keller notes,
"Discipleship is not an option. Jesus says that if anyone would come after
me, he must follow me." Here are a couple more quotes from someone who
paid the price to be an ardent disciple of Christ in the 20th
century. Dietrich Bonhoeffer noted:
"Salvation is free, but Discipleship
will cost you your life." When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die."
Let's see what Paul and others endured while sharing the gospel treasure with
others. Vs. 8-10, "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we
are not crushed. We are perplexed but not driven to despair. We are hunted down
but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through
suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life
of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies."
We will undoubtedly enjoy the treasure, the presence
of Christ, and the assurance of salvation, but also face heartaches and
troubles, including persecution. This is the whole gospel. The word of faith
movement doesn't talk about suffering. Many Christians in the west want wealth
and health but cannot handle it when troubles hit them and shake their faith.
The reason is we don't have a theology of suffering.
We love our comforts and ease. Many of the early disciples knew about and
experienced suffering. They were hard-pressed but not crushed. They were
confused but did not give up hope. Hunted down, but they knew God never abandoned
them. They were knocked down but got up and kept going for the Lord.
Through their suffering, they continued to share in
the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may be seen in their bodies. Even
in our lives, God allows suffering so that we will be conformed to His image,
and his glorious gospel light will continue to shine through us.
Pastor Josef Tson, a Romanian pastor and educator,
suffered terribly under the Communists before the fall of the Iron Curtain.
After one particular cruel bout with an interrogator, he was very discouraged.
Then the Lord met with him, giving him a Christlike perspective. The following
week the interrogation began again, but everything was different. His
interrogator stopped and said, "Mr. Tson, who visited you this weekend?
I have in front of me a different person than the one
who left here. Somebody came and changed you completely. I have to know who
came and visited you." "Jesus visited me," said Pastor Tson, "and
made me ready for the battle again."[1] When we go through
hardships, could we also say, like Pastor Tson, Jesus visited me and made me ready
for the battle again?
What motivated the early disciples, the apostle Paul,
Pastor Tson, and thousands of others, despite all the hardship, not to give up
their faith and continue to share the gospel? Vs. 11-12, "Yes, we live
under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus so that the life of Jesus
will be evident in our dying bodies. So, we live in the face of death, but this
has resulted in eternal life for you." What incredible examples of
suffering, servitude, and sharing of faith.
They all followed in the footsteps of the one who
saved them and entrusted to them the ministry of the New Covenant of grace and
love. We enjoy the fruit of the labor of the early disciples and missionaries
who sacrificially and fearlessly spread the good news.
Because of their suffering, we get to live and have
the treasure, the presence of Christ, in us. The time of reckoning for the
American Church has come. God is shaking our core foundations and comfort zones,
so we run to Him and take Jesus as our greatest treasure.
As
we thank God for this incredible treasure in us and enjoy all the blessings
with it, let's also pray that God will give us opportunities to share this
glorious good news with others.
