TREASURE IN JARS OF CLAY

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

Matthew 13:44

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

 

The verse above is addressing the treasure to be found in a relationship with Christ. It also uses the example of a man who can represent any one of us that finds such a treasure. The illustration demonstrates the response we have when we realize the great importance and eternal value of this treasure found in Christ.  Our response is so intense that we are willing to give up anything and everything to possess this treasure. Such should be our commitment to God and our eternal fellowship with Him.

 

But I want to cause you to think about something that came into my mind about this verse. Aren’t we in a sense a “treasure” God greatly values as well? I don’t want to imply that this verse should be interpreted differently, but I feel there are some truths in this thought I had that originate from other portions of scripture.

 

If you will allow me, let me reword this verse to illustrate my thought.

 

“The kingdom of heaven is a treasure hidden in earthen vessels. When God finds these perishable vessels, in His joy, He offers them the most precious and valuable sacrifice of His only Son to purchase them for His Kingdom.”

 

We probably don’t often look upon ourselves as great treasures. We look in the mirror and see many imperfections. We stumble with words at times and often get ourselves in trouble because of our fleshly desires and selfishness. We feel discarded, broken, spoiled and tainted by what life has done to us. Our bodies ache and complain as we age. Our emotions and confidence are often damaged and wounded by the loss of jobs, the rejection of divorce, the abandonment of friends or the failure of investments.

 

Those of us, who have great pride in ourselves; if we are honest, realize that this pride is just a glossy coat of paint over an earthen vessel that is made of perishable clay.

 

But God looks upon us with a different sort of eye. He sees the value and worth of our soul. I can’t say I fully understand this, but I believe it might explain why He gave up so much, His only Son, to die for our sins. I believe there is a great truth here for us to consider. In a sense we are considered by Him to be a discarded treasure that He wishes to claim for His own.

 

Many verses speak of the treasures we have in Christ and the Kingdom of God.

 

Proverbs 15:6

“The house of the righteous contains great treasure.”

 

Isaiah 33:6

“He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.”

 

Matthew 6:20-21

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

 

2 Corinthians 4:7

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

 

1 Timothy 6:18-19

“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”

 

Our treasure as God’s children is to be found in a relationship with Him. The fear of the Lord is the foundation for this treasure. This treasure is having access to His wisdom, strength, power, comfort, love and eternal life.

 

But God’s treasure is the weak earthen vessels He reclaims for His own. Picture us as vessels similar to treasure chests. Treasure chests are simply wooden boxes. Without the contents of gold coins, rubies, jewels and gold nuggets they are just wood boxes.

 

Before we know Christ as our Savior we are simply fleshly earthen vessels without the treasure of Christ in our hearts. We are perishable containers that hold hearts of stone. Once we are saved we are given a heart of flesh and all of the treasures of God are placed within us, including the Holy Spirit.

 

God seeks to save us to place His vast treasures within us and the most valuable treasure He places within us is the Holy Spirit when we accept His Son as our Savior and Lord.

 

2 Corinthians 4:7

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

 

But while God places His treasures within us, He views us as a most precious treasure to be reclaimed. Our Heavenly Father seeks us out. He searches for us and does everything in His power to draw us to Him. God first finds us, and then we find Him. His Spirit ministers to us and He calls us to be His child. He calls us a royal priesthood, a holy people. 

 

1 Peter 2:9

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

 

1 Peter 2:4-5

“As you come to him, the living Stone — rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him — you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

 

What a blessing it is for us to be transformed from simple earthen vessels into treasure chests that contain the treasures of the almighty God. What a blessing it is for God as well, to redeem us and save us from our sins. Believe it or not He sees great value in each and every one of us.

 

He is so moved by the value He sees in us that He gave His only Son to make it possible for us to come to our Heavenly Father.

 

So be encouraged. You may feel like someone who is discarded by life, by trials, by people, by your employer, but God views you as more precious than gold or diamonds. He values you so much that He gave His only Son to die for you. He desires to know you personally on a day-by-day basis. He wants to minister to you and share His treasures with you. Just like the man who found the treasure in the field. God wants to find you and claim you as His treasure. He wants to bestow upon you the marvelous treasures of His Kingdom, love and blessings. He wants to change you from a simple perishable wooden box to a most holy treasure chest full of His power, grace and mercy.