2 Corinthians 4:1-7
From the text scripture we identify that we have “This Treasure”, which signifies that the treasure we have is singular; it is not manifold. It’s speaking to the fact that there’s something God has placed in us. There are many vessels.
“This ministry” is assuredly the gospel. So the ministry that we have received is the gospel, and Christ Jesus is the focus of the message being preached. Reading from verses 1-7, this treasure we have is the same as this ministry and this gospel. This ministry represents the glorious gospel that is in earthen vessels.
Reading this verse alone, we were able to understand what the text meant by “this treasure”. Therefore, the treasure will be everything that the gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ, offered or made available. There are a lot of things that can be found in that one treasure, but it is “this treasure.”
What God has given us in the treasure is the gospel of his son, Jesus Christ, and there are a lot of things that can now be explained in more detail as part of this treasure. This treasure is the ministry, which is the gospel; it is the shining light of Christ’s magnificent gospel.
Fundamentally, this treasure is the light of Christ’s magnificent gospel, which we have received via the ministry. So, if you comprehend verse 8 downward, you’ll now hear Paul discussing what the vessels carrying the treasure can go through. The vessels that carry this treasure go through a lot of stuff.
Verse 6 says “for God who had commanded the light to shine out of darkness and shine in our hearts, to give the light.” So the light of Christ’s magnificent gospel is likewise the light of the knowledge of the glory of God. It does not refer to distinct things.
According to verses 4 and 6, it is the light of the glorious gospel of Christ and the knowledge of God’s glory in Jesus’ face, respectively. All he’s trying to do is explain to you the treasure we have in Him. As a result, the light of the knowledge of God’s glory and the light of the glorious gospel are identical.
Allowing the Bible to explain itself is the most effective method of providing explanations for scriptural subjects.
Different explanations and expressions for the same thing
What is this treasure?
1. It is the ministry that we have received. Verse 1
2. The light of the glorious gospel of Christ. Verse 4
3. It is also the image of God. Verse 4
And the image of God is Christ; Christ is the express image of the invisible God.
4. Is the light that has shone out of darkness Verse 6.
5. It is the light of the knowledge of God.
The gospel emerged from the death of God’s son on the cross at Calvary. There is no gospel outside the death of Jesus. Aside from the gospel, there is nothing called light out of darkness. There is no way to encounter Christ as the express image of God without the gospel; all of these become the reality of the child of God as a result of what the Father accomplished for us through Christ Jesus.
It’s an ordinary clay jar that holds this glorious treasure within. The best of the best are common clay jars. If precautions are not taken, men will come to believe they are gods and extremely powerful. No matter how confident a common clay jar is in its power, it must be reminded that it is only clay.
God is instructing us to focus on the treasure rather than the clay. Men have at times missed out on God. God does not desire the glory to be given to mortals. You must never forget that no matter what God does through you, you are still clay.
This message is for your future self, because you will undoubtedly be great, but always remember that you are a clay. This treasure has the potential to transform a weakling into an extraordinary being. The issue is not what the treasure transforms you into, but rather that you must comprehend the excellency of God’s power.
Consider King Herod as a case study. The people attributed all of the credit and glory to him, but he did not return it to God. Maggots began to emerge from his body while he was still alive. This persisted till his death. When men try to make you forget that you are simply a regular man, you must not forget. Any vessel that God uses must remember to ascribe glory to God.
We cannot stop certain things. We would recognize this when we are lifted in specific areas of our lives. Regardless of how many compliments you receive, be reminded that you are simply a man of God. Our hearts must be protected. We must not strive for ministry for the sake of receiving accolades. The audience yelled, “It is not the voice of God!” when Herod delivered the speech.
2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us (KJV).
The message is about the power of God. God dislikes the wisdom of men competing with Him. This is why He rarely uses the professor and the wise. This is because it is not about the jar itself, but rather the treasure inside. God intends to diminish the understanding of prudence. Do not think God takes pride in stupidity.
In verse 20, Paul asks, “where is the wise, where is the scribe?”
The wisdom of the world prevented men from knowing God. It is the foolishness of God to make the world know Him through the preaching of the cross.
The world did not know God because of its wisdom. No one understands God through PhDs and philosophies. We cannot understand Him by principles. We will lose out. This is because His wisdom is encapsulated in the simplicity of the gospel. You cannot make God complex.
As a result, in our preaching, we must avoid making Him complex. We cannot teach him by laws and principles, nor can we preach him through oratory. This is why depth is revealed by how simply we teach Him.
Depth does not confuse people or give the gospel a vague appearance. We preach Christ crucified. The foolishness of God is wiser than men. The weakness of God is wiser than men. He has no need for our credentials. We are only a jar of common clay that determines God’s move.
1 Corinthians 1:26-28 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
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;
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 (KJV).
We can see that He said there are few wise folks after the flesh. Not many nobles were called. God chose foolish things to confound the wise.
The apostles Paul and Barnabas went somewhere to preach and heal a man who had been crippled since birth. They were worshipped as gods throughout Lystra. They told the crowds that they couldn’t take such glory and that they were simply common men.
Acts 14:14-16 Which, when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes and ran in among the people, crying out,
And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways (KJV).
They ran out of the midst of the people and tore their clothes. We must let the Lord take the stage. We should be satisfied as we see him glorified.
1 Corinthians 1:31, the concluding portion of the chapter, discusses God’s glory.
We don’t need what is being taught right now. It is not appropriate for the level at which we now operate. It is something that we ought to keep for the future. It is at this moment that guys will want to lift your legs and show reverence. They may do it with a sincere desire to honor the vessel that God is using
The days of ascending to higher positions are here; those platforms are on their way. The essential message of this reading is that no man should glory in himself. 1 Corinthians 1:29-31.
This ministry came to us via God’s mercy. The spirit was not born of our eloquence. Maintain your humility; don’t look down on everyone just because you have learnt one or two scriptures.
There may come a time in a man’s life when he would be guilty of the pride of place, pace, grace and space.
Even if we started together, we will not be at the same level in the long run. There is a fine line between sliding into pride and projecting your accomplishments. Don’t make others feel inferior just to make yourself seem significant.
This is not an excuse to compromise on excellence especially in the household of faith. The blood of Jesus is the common ground, it is the equaliser. It’s what places us on the same pedestal. We put our credentials aside and serve with humility in God’s sanctuary. No one should glory in his presence.
We don’t boast in the things we have or what we have accomplished; we boast in the Glory of God.
When we approach the presence, proclaiming glory to his name. We let him have all the glory because it isn’t about us.1 Corinthians 1:31
We don’t gloat about our possessions because he deposited his treasure in us. He works his treasure in us.
He deserves the credit because we didn’t have any distinguishing qualities to enjoy. This will lead you to a state of humility and dependency on God. God utilizes you as a channel. Don’t do good and declare yourself king over it. If men applaud you for something, give the credit back to God. Don’t allow pride lead you to the point where the Lord wishes to find a replacement for you. God can’t be stranded.