Treasure in earthen vessels

2Co 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2Co 4:2 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.


2Co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost
2Co 4:4 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.
2Co 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
2Co 4:6 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.


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


What treasure? What treasure lies within us? Can we cut our bodies open and have a treasure of silver fall out? Is blood liquid gold? Are bones made of diamonds? Is our heart formed of rubies? No, no, no, and no. The treasure we possess in our earthen vessels is knowledge of SALVATION, the Gospel of the KINGDOM, our Lord, our Savior!


We are taught to believe that treasure is something spectacularly corporeal. From our youth we are taught to acquire possessions and if we don't have them then to long for them especially if others around us have them. Of course there could be situations where parents raise their children to not want things, but doesn't that often in turn somehow end up making them want them anyway? I'd like to think there are places where children are raised to appreciate true treasures not those that are physical. I imagine there are those places, maybe scattered here and there. Once we are raised with the belief that treasures are possessions we can buy, possessions we can touch, possessions we claim as belonging to us and only we have the liberty of letting others use them, once this belief is instilled in us it's hard to truly imagine those earthly treasures as being worthless. So many people work hard and some have the claim to working hard all their lives to possess the things they do and therefore they're entitled to those possessions- their blood, sweat, and yes, their tears give them that right. What about those who work hard all their lives and in the end possess nothing physical? A old homeless man without much more than the clothes on his back dies and is given a pauper's funeral all the while the pity for man abounds because he died without anything, he died homeless, he died possession-of course some might not pity him because their disgust at his state of being overwhelms any pity. Then we have a rich man who dies with many possessions and people aren't pitying him but rather wishing they had part of the inheritance he left behind. Very few pity or feel disgust over a rich man dying old having had a full life.


Jesus died homeless, penniless, possession-less.


A very rich man can die without any treasure within him. A very poor man can die having great treasure within him.


When we die where do we want our treasure to have been? Within or without?


God forbid we have no treasure within no matter where we fit in on the treasures without- abundant, mediocre, or sparse.


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


The ONLY way to get treasure within is by the POWER OF GOD! We cannot put the treasure within us by ourselves. We cannot buy this treasure with all the money in the world- not all the dollars, not all the euros, not all the yen, not all the francs, not all the… well you get the picture. No earthly wealth can give anyone the treasure within, this priceless, wondrous treasure. You also can't work for this treasure, you can't demand the treasure, you can't steal the treasure, you have to be GIVEN the treasure by God!


Truly - give us this day our daily bread!


Reading on is it any wonder we need this treasure within us- given to us by the all powerful, wondrous, praiseworthy God! If we try to manufacture this treasure within it would be powerless and we need the power of God if we are to live for Him.


2Co 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2Co 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed

2Co 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

2Co 4:11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
2Co 4:12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
2Co 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
2Co 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
2Co 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.


By the grace of our Lord may we receive the gift of eternal life through the power and majesty, the glory of His love towards us. May we be earthen vessels filled with the treasure of all He is all through His excellent power!


In His Love!


Amen.