Earthen Vessels

By Bessie Wilson

“We have this treasure in earthen vessels,” Paul tells us in
2 Corinthians 4:7. Looking at the passage before this, we see he has likened
the light of the gospel coming into the heart to the light of creation. “For it
is the God who said ‘Let light shine out of darkness’ who has shone in our
hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of
Christ.” 

It is light with a purpose. The face of Christ is illumined
to us, not in visions necessarily, but in our coming to recognize that the
Christ of the Gospels is indeed the Son of God, our Lord and Saviour. This then
is our treasure, the personal knowledge of Jesus Christ as He comes to make His
home in our hearts. 

Paul says “earthen vessels,” and this represents our bodies,
or more specifically our whole lives. When I was in Japan, I was amazed at the
talent of the Japanese with their flower arrangements or ikebana as it
is called. What I noticed was that the perfection of the flowers was not
obscured by a garish, highly-painted vase. Generally, the pottery was
nondescript in color and low in comparison to the arrangement. Paul further
says “that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us,” which gives
the purpose of the earthen vessel. The question comes to each of us then, “Is
my life showing or obscuring my treasure?”

In recent years among evangelicals (influenced by the
secular world), there has been a rising desire for maturity in ourselves and in
our relationships with others. Christians are being helped in conferences,
through books and by counselors to accept themselves and others. In women’s
circles “fulfillment” is sought and taught, and this is necessary. To criticize
this would be wrong, for long-standing abuses are being corrected. But my
question is a warning: Is there not a danger of over-preoccupation with the
vessel? Is God going to be glorified by my “actualizing my potential” or by my
humbly, gratefully displaying my treasure? Whether we seek positive
improvements in our personalities, or elimination of bad habits in ourselves,
let our motives be that Christ will be seen increasingly in our lives.

This post coordinates with yesterday’s reading in the To
the Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan,
please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.