Jars Of Clay
It is amazing how God takes something of no value and makes it extremely valuable; like taking dust and forming it into a human body. This creation is so intricate and complex, yet fragile and weak. Just one bump on the head, a clog in an artery or a microscopic germ is enough to end its life. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, refers to our bodies as “jars of clay”. (I Cor. 4.7) I remember when my wife was learning how to throw clay in a pottery class. What she thought was a perfect pot often was destroyed by the teacher before it went into the kiln, because it was too thin to withstand the refining of the fire. Those jars that passed his approval were sent to the kiln where they went from an unfinished product to a household amenity. Having completed this process the pots could be used for several purposes, yet the slightest bump on the table where the jars are stored, could send them falling to their demise. Durability is deceiving.
Paul was not trying to cover up the fact that he was weak, in fact he boasted in his weaknesses. He was instructing the Corinthian Church to accept their humanity and look at the treasure that was placed in them. The emphasis of this portion of Scripture is to contrast the message of the Gospel with the messenger of the Gospel, God’s ability with our inability and His strength with our weakness. Trying harder in our own power doesn’t overcome our weakness, it only exposes more of our weaknesses. Self-exertion only leaves one depleted and depressed. So, Paul abandons the quest to be a superman and decides to only trust in the power of God that is at work in and through him. Though weak, he was strong. Though poor, yet he made many rich.
Nick Vujicic was born in 1982, in Melbourne, Australia, without arms and legs. For the first year of his life, his parents refused to hold him or even look at him. They were so revolted by the physical condition of their son. Throughout his childhood, Nick struggled with loneliness and depression as he questioned why he was different from all the other kids. He just couldn’t get the question of “Why was I the one born with no arms and legs?” out of his head. At the age of 17, he was challenged by a janitor at his school to begin speaking publicly about overcoming adversity. He began by giving a motivational talk to his prayer group and has since shared his faith in Jesus Christ to over 6 million people in 57 countries. He is an author of several books, married and has two children, and is an evangelist and world famous motivational speaker. Instead of complaining about his weaknesses he began to identify with who he is in Christ. The treasure is greater than the jar of clay.
God has purposely designed it this way so that there will be no mistake as to the source of the life-changing power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul saw his strengths as a hindrance and his weaknesses as an asset. Most motivational talks concentrate on the development of your strengths and talents. The majority place the emphasis on self-improvement and self-confidence, but the Scriptures’ positive confession of “I can do all things” is conditioned by “through Him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4.13), as does “we are more than conquerors” with “through Him who loved us” (Rom. 8.37) It is all about the treasure that we hold so dear in our mortal bodies. Our strength is from within. Our strength is the Lord.
Scriptures to meditate on:
I Cor. 4.7-12; Ps. 9.10; 31.12; Is. 30.14; 40.28-31; Rom. 8.37; Phil. 4.13