TREASURES IN EARTHEN VESSELS

 TREASURES IN EARTHEN VESSELS

2Corinthians 4:7(kjv)

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the Excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us"

2Corinthians 4:7(NLT)

"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".

2Corinthians 4:7(NIV)

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us".

Hallelujah! Let us say

"I HAVE TREASURE IN MY EARTHEN VESSELS"

Glory to God!

From the scriptures, God is saying unto us we have treasures in earthen vessels. And it is very important that this is coming at the very beginning of the year in order to set the pace for the year. It is often said that an athlete who wants to finish a race well most of the time had started well. The journey of the new year does not begin when we are half way but at the very beginning. 

It is a wonderful thing we are receiving this from God's word. "I am a treasure" "We are treasures".

What is understood as Treasure?

Treasures can be said to mean prized possessions, a choiced good(good of choice), something one cherishes. Treasures can mean things we hold dear. According to the English dictionary, Treasures are a quantity of precious metals, gems, or other valuable objects. 

What then is God's definition of treasure?

You and I...let's look from God's word in 1Peter 2:9

"For ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people, a holy nation; ye are called forth to show the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light". Hallelujah!

You are a chosen generation meaning you are not a mistake but a choiced creation. This is treasure. According to the last portions of the verse, you have been called into the kingdom of light. New Living Translation says we now have this light shining in our hearts. We are all treasures.

The Bible also makes us to understand that we are vessels of God. 2Timothy 2:4 "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour". So as treasures in earthen vessels, we have treasure in us. From the very verse above, we see that different vessels exist, and each category of vessel will determine the content it carries. A vessel of gold will carry something different from wood and certainly different from silver. 

It says some to dishonor and some to honor. They are all vessels but do not carry out same function. This is what we see in the christiandom today; the Bible makes us to understand that every man as long as you breath the life of God, there is a calling upon your life. For every man you see on the streets either doing what is right or wrong, there is a calling upon every man but the outcome of that calling is what makes the difference. How we maximize those treasures in our earthen vessels. This is what makes some vessels of honour and others of dishonour. 

From scriptures, we understand why we have these treasures in earthen vessels. God never created any man empty. As a matter of fact, all He creates was good...meaning they were all cherished, all treasured. Why then did He put such in us? In the latter part of 2Corinthians 4:7 "that the Excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us".

I love how NLT puts the latter part, "This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves". So, it is clear. Anything that is clear means it can be seen. So all can see that the treasure you possess is of God and also from God.

As the Treasure of God, what this implies is that our lives cannot just be lived anyhow. Apostle Paul went on to explain to us what these treasures will mean for us, not just possessing them but when we use them. Verse 8-11 talks this much clearly:

"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.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". 

All the above look like we are subject to bad happenings, but Verse 17 of 2Corinthians 4 kjv says "for our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;"

Romans 8:28-30(kjv) says "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified". 

So, it is all in a bid that we may be glorified. Apostle Paul in all his ministry faced trials and persecutions. Verse 17 of 2Corinthians 4; says all we will face as Treasures of God are light and are only for Glory.

But remember we said that these treasures must be used. How a treasure is being used is what determines whether the vessel that possesses it can be called a vessel of Honour or dishonour. Everywhere in the scriptures that God tells us or reminds us that we are His people, there is always an instruction concluding it; there is always something we are doing as a people of God.

1Peter 2:9, 2Corinthians 4:7, Ephesians 2:10 (For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them), 1Corinthians 3:9-19, 2 Corinthian 4:1-2. Hence, whenever He says we are His, there is an assignment we are to fulfil.

We must understand that those Treasures in our earthen vessels must be put into good use. Remember the story of the talents(Matthew 25:14-30). Understanding this treasures in us is what brings us to the identification of our calling. The treasure are to manifest our calling.

Now that we have established the calling of God for every man. We must understand that He does not call empty vessels; there is a treasure which He has put in you that is supposed to help you in that calling. When people hear calling, we just assume its ministry. Our calling don't have to be us standing in front of a crowd, preaching or ministering to them. Your calling might be to save lives, to help the needy, to see a problem and solve it. Whatever it is, that  is your calling. But many miss it because they either expect it to be so big or think what they have is just so small so they do not maximize it.  In this new year, we must understand that there is a calling upon our lives and it will take us coming to the place of deep understanding to fully maximize it and the Treasures deposited in us. 

One other reason people stay ignorant of their calling is because we expect a vision. Some will have visions. The Bible made a classification in Joel 2:28 "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:"

For some, it will come in a form of dream, some through prophecies, some visions and for others it may not come this way. Nehemiah is an example (Nehemiah 1). He just found that something was wrong back at his home country and He needed to do something about it. Many a times, it will not come to us as a dream or vision, it may be something you've always known you are gifted in or you have passion for; there lies your calling.

Another thing, it is important to know that it's not every thing one has passion for or is gifted in that is your calling. Yes, it may be your treasure but may have not been put there for that reason. One way to know is that it aligns with God's will for your life.

TO BE CONTINUED

THE MEN THAT LEAD

Building manhood...