Thorns & Jars of Clay

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."

-II Corinthians 4:7 (ESV)

In reading II Corinthians you hear Paul talk about how we are jars of clay and will remain so until we go to be with Christ. I have read this a million times and have begun to skim over it, quoting the verse in my head as I read it. But take a second to think about what a jar of clay looks like and how fragile it is. Then begin to compare that to our lives - we are breakable and blemished, not adorned like beautiful China. While this seems less than exciting, Paul was resigned to this, even rejoicing in it. "<This is> to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." 

When I read that line I stopped. Something kind of clicked. How could we honor and love God if we weren't fragile and riddled with sin? We wouldn't feel a need for God at all if we were unblemished and perfect. We already depend on Him too little, even with such severe handicaps, imagine how independent we would be without them! This is all God's Will and we just have to accept it, learn to rejoice in our weaknesses, the "thorn" as Paul puts it. I'd always pictured the thorn concept Paul uses as something specific - either a physical limitation or a sin one struggles with - and I think it can be taken and used that way in some circumstances, but I also think it can be used to describe humanity. Our flaws, the curse of sin, our constant struggle between flesh and the eternal. It will always be the "thorn" and never be completely conquered in this life. But we can learn to look past that and see the perfectness of God through our weakness, our sinfulness, and see Him and His glory more fully. And thereby grow to understand our need for Him more perfectly, grasp that we can't do this alone and must learn to look to Him in all things. I love how The Message translates this verse: 

"If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at."

-II Corinthians 4:7 (Message) 

Heaven is not our only reward; we can learn to live this life with purpose, knowing that God is our treasure now - inside of us, as flawed and unadorned as we may be. This is His Will and purpose for us in the here and now, and these moments of affliction and failure are merely stepping stones to eternal glory. Don't allow your sin and shortcomings make you fail to see the treasure that is available to you in your life, in this very day.