Look ahead. 2nd Corinthians 4:7-18 We human beings are like jars made of clay, but that is not what is important in our life and ministry for the Lord. The value of the vessel lies in the treasure it contains. An empty vessel has no real value unless it holds something that is needed. Paul was such a vessel because he held the truth of God to be transmitted to us through him. In his openness and faithfulness, we have been blessed. The trials the apostle Paul went through did not negate his ministry in any way but rather enhanced it because of the triumph that followed. He could be trusted with a treasure. God knew what vessel to choose to fulfill His divine purposes. The priceless contents of the vessel made all the sufferings he had to endure, worth every pain.
God's power to fulfill the work to which He has called us, is in every believer. His truth, the Gospel, and the unfolding of divine purposes through us humble us as vessels that contain holy things to pass on to others. The fact that the Almighty God would allow us to be identified with His great treasures, keeps us from pride, and motivates us to keep in meaningful contact with Him, the Source of the power He has placed within us. Really, people around us should be able to see God through us, and the evidence of what is important to Him should be shown to them as we live and move among them.
Believers do have trials in life that cannot be avoided, but it is important for us to remember that God allows and controls trials and can use them to strengthen us and promote strength in others. Even though we are weak and sometimes broken in ourselves, the power of God is not limited. There are purposes of divine grace at work in us and through us that we may never know. The common things of life can illuminate the uncommon grace of God to us. Self-interest or interest in the welfare of others may involve suffering. When “the life of Jesus” is evident as a reality in our lives, our Lord can reach out to others through us and bless them.
God’s grace reaches many others through the grace He has given to us and that will bring glory to Him. God is able to be glorified through weak vessels that are obviously nothing in themselves, but contain what every person needs - the truth of God. Because of what we have, given to us by Him, He guards the vessel in times of difficulty and suffering, as the vessel guards the treasure within it. When we "buy the truth," we do not sell it for any reason nor ignore its claims on us and others.
It is not uncommon for “a clay jar” holding divine things to be imparted to others, to go through suffering in different ways. In fact, it would be unnatural if suffering did not come as a result of godly living. When the truth is being brought to others, there will be rejection, undeserved anger, subtle opposition, open persecution, humiliation, and mockery directed toward one who holds the truth of God in his heart. It may come from those under the power of sin and those under Satan's dominion. Faith enables us to see beyond what is normal to us and also lets us rest even when unknown and unexplained things happen in life. Enduring afflictions produce glory that is far greater and more impacting than common-place living.
False brethren, and even those who profess faith in Christ, may oppose because of the challenge of truth to their lifestyle and materialistic aims. When suffering for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, we can be assured God will not abandon us even though we may feel we cannot take one more thing - we are at the end of the rope. What costs us nothing, usually accomplishes nothing. There is a price to pay for the privilege of holding such a treasure as truth. Sadly, many today whom one time held the truth and seemed to appreciate it, and the privilege of sharing it, have sold it. Now in the interest of making people feel comfortable, and having them think we are tolerant of sin because we do the same things, the treasure is gone from many vessels. False teachers have no treasure in them and do not suffer. They are popular and well-accepted by those who want to avoid the sufferings of Christ rather than be a partaker of them. Others may suffer, but not the popular teachers who want to make their brand of Christianity "seeker friendly."
Christ won a great victory when He suffered, and blessing has come to millions of people because of that suffering. His victory was over sin and its consequences, death, and its claims, and hell and its pains. Because of His victory, we have been given eternal life. It cost Him and blessed us. That principle now flows over to us. Now suffering, humiliation, and trials are opportunities for the Lord Jesus Christ to be demonstrated to a watching world through us and in us. Paul's sufferings are mentioned three times in the book of 2nd Corinthians. Was his ministry a success or failure because of his sufferings? The Corinthians apparently considered it a failure - at least at that time.
If we measure success by the number of people who attend a meeting or the degree of popularity we have among unbelievers or carnal believers, our measurement is by worldly standards. "Few there be that find it," is not a welcome phrase to those who want to do their "ministry" in the ways of the world. Anything God accomplishes through His faithful servants is a success, whether it be great or small. What God does is not destroyed. What we do in the energy of the flesh is spurious and will not last.
The sufferings, difficulties, and problems we encounter in our ministry, will not last forever. Our assurance is that the outcome of a ministry directed by God is victorious. We need to keep focused by faith on the goal, not on the obstacles, discomforts, and discouragements we face from day to day. We will be raised with Christ and God will be glorified by the effects of His abundant grace. There is no reason for us to lose heart and walk away from the work we have been called to because of problems or suffering.
The “inward man” is being nourished and renewed each day. We have an eternal home to which we are traveling and the Holy Spirit guarantees our safe arrival. It is our earnest desire to please our Lord Jesus Christ as we are on our way home. “Light affliction” can be endured when we realize glory is awaiting. Affliction will pass. Glory will last forever. The Spirit of God gives inner strength so we will not quit. The trials we face are working for God's glory and He renews our strength daily. Criticism, weariness, and suffering will happen in any work God gives us, but that is to be expected. Our service for Him is involved in rescuing lost souls and bringing them to maturity in Christ.
The power of Christ works through the weakness of men, so there is no way the flesh can glory in supposed success. Our commitment to Christ and the ministry He has given to us is what is important. We can trust Him to meet our needs day by day of whatever nature they are. There is a purpose behind it when God allows His servants to go through suffering as they carry out His revealed will. We are identified with Christ in this way. He suffered reproach and rejection, and He was despised by men. He was acquainted with grief in the course of the life He led while here on earth.
Another purpose is that self-centeredness and pride are generally lost in times of suffering for righteousness' sake. Our perspective is sharpened as to what this life is all about, and the future becomes more real to us under the tension of suffering. Our faith is demonstrated so those with whom we come in contact know we have a positive motivation they cannot see or understand without faith themselves. Instead of the trials of the ministry being a negative influence, the power of God to sustain and conquer during times of suffering is put on display in a positive way. God's power is seen more clearly in the lives of suffering saints, than when everything is favorable.
This life and all that it entails is temporary and soon forgotten. God can and will sustain us as we pass through these things which endure only for a moment. The things which are not seen can be experienced now as we focus our hearts and minds on the eternal things we already have. Eternal life, eternal redemption, eternal salvation, and an eternal inheritance can be experienced and enjoyed daily. Eternal glory, eternal reward, eternal consolation, eternal light, and eternal joy in eternal heaven can be experienced to a degree now.
Eternal things and the future become more real to us when we are going through times of suffering. We will understand later what all that means when we are not limited by these fleshly bodies that are prone to sin. That is when we truly realize the things we see, are only temporary. Even though they take our attention now, they do not last. The unseen things that grace promises, truth defines, faith claims, and holiness practices, remain forever because that is their nature.
The sky is full of clouds, but they soon will pass as seasons change. Famines and feasts come, but they too will not last. Even when the seed goes into the ground, the die is cast, and life springs from God’s fullness. These things are real but temporary. The house we grew up in may burn to the ground and things that once were so important to us, are no longer found to be necessary for our well-being. There are all kinds of created things that are beautiful as we look around and these things are real but temporary.
Unseen things we can't touch like sight or intelligence, the bad thoughts we have or actions that bother our conscience; the intentions of our minds, and evil concupiscence - these things are real and eternal. Grace that is greater than our sin which meets our need; the faith by which we live when we know and love God's truth – these are eternal and abide forever. Gratitude and thanksgiving that replace greed and covetousness are real and eternal. Humility and kindness, compassion and tact, love and thoughtfulness; insight before the action; decision-making, and appreciation that accompanies the act - these things are eternal.
God's kind of life that He gives as a gift to us – eternal life; this is what is important. The knowledge that we have been accepted by Him when we put our trust in the Savior gives comfort to our souls. Assurance of forgiveness and peace between a just and holy God and us and there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus - these are the things that count because they are real and eternal.