We have this treasure …

 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.   2 Cor 4:7  

So, I find this old jar and it is loaded with gold coins and jewels and I can’t get my mind off the jar, this container.  How did it get to be so broken and dirty?  And how can I fix it?  Surely, if it holds such treasure I must somehow clean it up and get it fit to hold the treasure, right?  So, I worry and fret over this old jar of clay, and I get together with other jar-owners, so that we can learn all about restoring these old jars, making them presentable, if not beautiful.  And we read book after book about jar restoration, attend conferences and seminars, and sermons, and still, somehow, after being patched and cleaned and painted,  they are still just jars of clay in need of repair and restoration.

Then one day someone limps into one of our jar-restoring meeting and cries, “I could really use some help here.  I heard you all might have some treasure.  Where’s the treasure?”

“The what?”

“The treasure!  The all-surpassing power that you found in some old jars!  Where is it?  I could really use some help!”

“What do you mean?”

“The power that’s supposed to be inside those jars.  You know, the things you all keep fretting over.  Inside is where the treasure is!  Aren’t you going to start using the treasure inside?  ‘Cuz I could really use some help here!”

“Well, yes.  Of course, we will use the treasure inside.  But can’t you see.  Until we get these jars cleaned up, we won’t be able to present the treasure to anyone.  We can’t really expect people to see the beauty of the treasure until we get our acts together and present it with a presentable vessel.”

With a sigh, the visitor limps away, shaking his head. 

Treasure!?  All surpassing power!?  Why in the world have I been walking around all these years thinking that this jars of clay verse was all about the stinking jar?

Why give another day to trying to fancy up this old jar?  Why worry another minute about what people think of me?  If I were walking around with the all surpassing power of God’s love flowing out of me, I don’t think they’d be all that concerned about my clothes, my language, or whether or not I had a tattoo of a cross on my shoulder.   Nor would they really care whether I was well educated or could recite the books of the Bible in order. 

And if I had the all surpassing power of God’s love flowing through me, would I really still be carrying around anger about what my parents did 20 years ago, what my neighbor did last week, or what the press said about my church?  Wouldn’t I be quick to forgive just as I have been forgiven?

And if I had the all surpassing power of God’s love flowing through me, would I really spend time fretting about the worship style errors of the church down the street and the way my friend interprets Genesis 1?  Wouldn’t I simply love and accept others just as Christ accepted me?

And more importantly, if I really had the all surpassing power of God’s love flowing through me, wouldn’t I be longing to give it freely to others, obeying the law of Love as written in Word?  How can I claim to love God, if I refuse to love my own family and neighbors?  Freely I received this all surpassing power - this treasure.  Freely must I give. 

Lord, help me to take my eyes off me, and keep my eyes off me, so that I may fix my eyes on Jesus, the one who has given this treasure, and indeed the one who is this Treasure!  Help me to share this Treasure - this all-surpassing power of love, hope, healing, and redemption -  with the  people all around me!!

I need not make it complicated or well organized.  May I just keep it simple - this treasure-sharing need have nothing to do with me, just a willingness to let HIS LOVE and POWER pour out of me.   Lord, let it be.