“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV
When I was a young boy, I loved to watch TV shows about pirates. After watching a
pirate show, my friends and I would go outside and reenact what we had just seen— swinging
from ropes, sword fighting with sticks, walking the plank, and most importantly, hunting for
buried treasure. Our make-believe treasure hunting expeditions usually involved a map with a
curvy dotted line leading to a big red X that marked the spot where the treasure was buried.
In 2 Corinthians 4:7, there are several important truths that can encourage us in our walk
with God. The first encouraging truth is that we have been given a treasure. The context of the verses leading up to this phrase indicate that the treasure Paul is speaking of is the “light of the gospel.” The word “light” is used three times in verses 4-6. And Paul is declaring that we have this treasure— which is the light of the gospel, shining in our hearts to give us the knowledge of the glory of God in Christ.
The Word of God is filled with treasure that is well worth the effort to discover. The word “treasure” in verse 7 comes from the Greek word ‘thesauros’ which means ‘stored up treasure’ or ‘a storehouse for treasured things.’ This word is also the root of the English word ‘thesaurus’, which refers to a storehouse (treasure) of synonyms. For writers, the main aspect of the ‘treasure’ of a thesaurus is that it can give us the exact word we need for any given situation. I believe the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to use this specific word because when our hearts are illuminated by the gospel of Christ and the knowledge of God— that treasure gives us the exact “Word” that we need for any given situation in life!
The second encouraging truth in verse 7 is that God has chosen to invest his priceless treasure in ‘earthen vessels.’ This term refers to us and acknowledges our weakness and frailty as human beings. In that era, earthen vessels were very common and inexpensive. Historical literature indicates that hiding valuables in cheap, earthen vessels was a common practice in those days.
But there is another very common kind of earthen vessel that I believe Paul was referring to in this verse. Small oil lamps made of clay were cheap and common in the markets during those days. These would align more perfectly with Paul’s analogy because they were earthen vessels that contained the light needed to illuminate their surroundings.
The third encouraging truth found in verse 7 is that God has chosen to place his treasure in our lives to demonstrate that the amazing power that works in us comes from him. An earthen vessel is a humble container that is privileged to be filled with the treasure of God! God loves and values us so much that he has placed the treasure of his presence and the light of the gospel in our hearts. And that treasure of illumination gives us the exact “Word” we need for every situation we face. When we walk in obedience to God’s Word— our lives display the fact that the power flowing in us comes from God himself and lights the way for others to follow him. Don’t allow the awesome treasure that God has placed in your heart to remain hidden. Embrace it and let your light shine so brightly that others can see God’s power working in you and be drawn to the Lord!
