2 Corinthians 4: Jars of Clay

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

Although Paul has an unshakable belief in an afterlife (see 1 Corinthians 15), he does not prepare for the next life by sitting around all day waiting for it to arrive. Paul works as hard as anyone has ever worked, but with a new purpose: "So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it" (5:9). He seeks to do God's will on Earth just as it is done in heaven.

Paul's hope for the future, however, keeps him motivated when the crush of life tempts him to lose heart. He is writing this letter just as an intense struggle with the Corinthian church is coming to a head, and as a result, this letter reveals the apostle in one of his lowest, most vulnerable moments. He has, barely, survived hardships "far beyond [his] ability to endure" (1:8)

In his typical style, Paul uses a word picture to express his inner thoughts: "treasure in jars of clay." In his day, jars of clay are nearly as common- and as disposable- as cardboard boxes are today. You would not expect to store valuables in a container that, in essence, consists of baked dirt. Yet, Paul also recognizes that God has chosen to entrust the "treasure" of the gospel to ordinary people such as himself, people who in some ways resemble breakable jars of clay. At this point, beset by difficulties, Paul feels about as durable as one of these jars.

Reflection

Amazingly, God continues to choose mere humans as his personal representatives. Paul is determined to draw attention to the treasure inside him, not to himself. As he writes, "what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." Everything we own in life can crumble like a clay jar, but the one treasure that we all have- God's grace- is rock solid.