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.
This treasure we have is the good news of transformation in Jesus Christ. This treasure brings fundamental change at the core of our being. “We have” shows that we can receive and experience this treasure as a gift of grace. This is ours. God has given this to us and we only need to reach out our hands and receive it. This is a “treasure” of highest value. It is the experience of God’s glory, being in God’s presence, finding our deepest longing fulfilled in the promises–the “yes” of Christ.
Yet, we have this greatest treasure in “jars of clay.” We are weak and imperfect. Our bodies are prone to sickness and will eventually die. Paul writes in this letter about his suffering and persecution. Every believer will experience difficulty in this life. Jesus warned his disciples, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18). And later, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Clay jars can easily crack and break. These were the primary way people stored things in the ancient world. They were common everywhere.
God’s grace is at work in our weaknesses. God’s strength becomes more apparent in our times of weakness and suffering. If we only had our own strength and resources to overcome the challenges of this life, we would end up in defeat. This is where many people today struggle. They try to overcome the problems of life by their own efforts. There are many people who suffer from depression, discouragement. The remedy for this is to turn to God. There are many believers in Jesus who live in spiritual defeat because they are trying to be righteous by the law and by their own efforts. Paul addressed into problem in ch. 3. The veil that covers people’s hearts has been removed and the goal is now clear and reachable.
God has designed salvation and our life on earth this way to teach us to rely on him and not ourselves. This is what it means to love. To love God requires that we find our meaning and purposes in him, not our own agendas. This is the sanctified life and God’s call and will for us.
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