Treasures in Earthen Vessels

Preliminary:

Thanks

Invite to 2 Cor. 4:7

2 Corinthians 4:7 KJV 1900

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

1. The Treasure

The first thing we notice in this verse is the idea of “this treasure”

Do they still teach kids how to use a Thesaurus?

Raise your hand if you know what a thesaurus is...

I am a stickler for dad jokes: I read one recently about a Thesaurus.

"My thesaurus was crushed in a moving accident. It was an unfortunate, unlucky, catastrophic, devastating event."

A thesaurus is a basically a book of synonyms

One comedian put it this way, "A thesaurus is just a book where you trade a boring word for a slightly more exciting one. You could say it’s thrilling, exhilarating, or electrifying!"

A preacher might say something like: "I used a thesaurus to write my sermon, but now I’m not preaching, I’m delivering, proclaiming, and expounding."

A truck loaded with thousands of copies of thesauruses crashed yesterday

Witnesses were stunned, startled, aghast, taken aback, stupefied, confused, shocked, rattled, paralyzed, dazed, bewildered, mixed up, surprised, awed, dumbfounded, nonplussed, flabbergasted, astounded, amazed, confounded, astonished, overwhelmed, horrified, numbed, speechless, and perplexed.

Alright enough about the thesaurus..in fact you are probably wondering why in the world I am talking about them anyway

There is a reason - I haven’t really gotten sidetracked

The word “thesaurus” is is derived directly from the Greek word "thēsauros" (θησαυρός). The connection lies in the historical meaning and evolution of the Greek word.

Initially, "thēsauros" referred to a physical treasury commonly found in ancient Greek and Jewish temples.

These treasuries functioned as secure repositories for valuable items like: Offerings Gifts Taxes

Over time, the meaning of "thēsauros" expanded to encompass not just the physical location, but also the valuable contents stored within – the treasure itself.

This semantic shift is key to understanding the link to the English "thesaurus."

A thesaurus is essentially a "treasury of words," a compilation of synonyms and related concepts, mirroring the idea of precious items stored together.

Therefore, the English word "thesaurus" directly inherits its meaning from the Greek "thēsauros," reflecting the evolution of the word from a physical storage space to a repository of valuable content.

The Bible talks about several types of treasures:

Earthly vs. Heavenly Treasures:

Matthew 6:19-21: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Excerpt 1)This passage emphasizes the fleeting nature of earthly possessions and the enduring value of spiritual riches.

The Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:21):

The rich fool is deemed foolish for accumulating earthly wealth without considering his spiritual well-being. This reinforces the idea that true wealth lies in a relationship with God, not in material possessions.

Principles of Christian Giving (1 Corinthians 16:2):

1 Corinthians 16:2 “2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”

This verse establishes four key principles:

Regularity: Give "upon the first day of the week," suggesting consistent giving as part of regular worship.

Inclusivity: "Every one of you" emphasizes that all Christians are responsible for supporting God's work.

Location: Giving should be directed to the local church.

Proportion: Give "as God hath prospered him," advocating for generosity based on individual blessings, rather than fixed tithes.

This treasure that Paul is talking about in our text no doubt is referring to the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4–6).

2 Corinthians 4:4–6 “4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

The Light of the Gospel: The knowledge of God’s glory, revealed in the face of Christ, is the core message.

Eternal Value: This is the greatest gift that brings salvation and eternal life, more precious than any worldly treasure.

Application: The gospel is a divine treasure, and as believers, we have been entrusted with this invaluable message to share with the world.

The story is told about Evalyn Walsh Mclean. She was an American socialte, heiress, , and the last private owner of the famed Hope Diamond. She was born into immense wealth, as her father, Thomas Walsh, was a successful gold miner in Colorado. As a result, Evalyn grew up in luxury and was accustomed to a life of opulence and privilege.

The Hope Diamond was purchased from a jeweler by Evalyn in 1910 for $180,000. This would be the equivalent to about $5 million today accounting for inflation.

It weighs 45.52 carats and is one of the world’s largest and most famous blue diamonds.

There was a rumor that the Hope Diamond carried a curse that would bring bad luck and tragedy to its owners - but that didn’t stop Evalyn from purchasing this diamond.

Now Evalyn obviously didn’t appreciate expensive things like we would think she should have or could have but she treated the diamond very casually

Wearing it herself, letting her children and even her dog wear it

It is reported that it was kept in a plain brown paper bag.

But all of the casualness, and how it was stored did not change the value or worth of the diamond at all.

We are not told what Harry Winston paid for the diamond upon the death of Evalyn - but it was donated to the Smithsonian where it is on display

Just as a jewel in a simple container is not diminished in value, the gospel’s worth is not lessened by the weak human vessels that carry it.

2. The Earthen Vessels

Human Weakness: "Earthen vessels" symbolize the frail, imperfect, and temporary nature of human beings.

We are fleshly houses or earthen vessels - some have said clay pots - a Christian rock band snatched onto this term and called themselves Jars of Clay

Fragility: Like clay pots, humans are susceptible to suffering, weakness, and mortality (2 Corinthians 4:8–9). This underscores our dependence on God’s power, not our own strength.

Humility: God deliberately chooses weak vessels so that the power of the gospel will not be attributed to human wisdom or ability

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 “26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.”

Application: God uses ordinary, flawed people for extraordinary purposes. Instead of being discouraged by our weaknesses, we should trust that God’s strength is made perfect in our limitations (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Illustration: Just as ancient clay pots were used to store valuables, our bodies, despite their frailty, are entrusted with God’s most precious gift.

3. The Excellency of the Power

Power from God, Not from Us: The contrast between the treasure and the earthen vessels reveals that the power and effectiveness of the gospel come from God alone.

Divine Power in Ministry: The "excellency" or surpassing greatness of God’s power is on display when weak humans are able to carry out the mission of the gospel (Ephesians 3:20).

Glory to God: By using fragile vessels, God ensures that He alone receives the glory for the work done through us.

Application: We are reminded that no matter how weak we feel, it is God working through us. We are simply vessels, but His power is what brings transformation.

Illustration: A powerful light shining from a cracked pot draws attention not to the pot itself but to the light. In the same way, our weaknesses highlight God’s power.

4. The Purpose of the Paradox

To Demonstrate God’s Grace: The paradox of treasure in earthen vessels shows the grace of God, who empowers the weak and uses the humble for His glory (1 Peter 5:5–6).

To Display the Sufficiency of God: Our insufficiency draws attention to God’s sufficiency, reminding us that all we accomplish is because of Him (2 Corinthians 3:5).

Application: The gospel thrives in humility, brokenness, and weakness. By embracing our human limitations, we allow God’s power to shine through us more brightly.

Illustration: Like Gideon’s army in Judges 7, which was reduced to show God’s power, our own limitations allow God's glory to be fully manifest.Conclusion: