“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.”
– 2 Corinthians 4:7 (LSB)
Main Thought: God has chosen to use men and women, small and great, to do His work in this world. That work involves preaching the Gospel, making disciples of all nations, and building the Church. However, lest we get to thinking too highly of ourselves or other servants of Christ, Paul reminds us that we are just earthen vessels, formed and created by God, vessels that are limited in strength, vitality, and duration of life. God has privileged us to help in this work, but the work will be accomplished because of the surpassing greatness of God, not because of us and our abilities. When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost and 3000 souls were saved, it was not because of Peter’s great prowess in preaching, but it was because of the great power of God upon him through the Holy Spirit. When writing to the Ephesians, Paul acknowledged that their salvation was not because of anything in his might or ability, but it was according to “the immeasurable greatness of His (God’s) power toward us who believe, according to the working of His (God’s) great might that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead…” (Eph. 1:19-20), and that the ability he had to preach the gospel was “according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of His power” (Eph. 3:7). Daily as we grow older and weaker physically, we come to realize in our work and efforts for the kingdom of God and glory of Christ, that anything we accomplish must be by His might; it must be by the enlivening of the Holy Spirit. What a great encouragement this should be for us, to realize that our physical abilities do not limit the work of God in salvation and the building of the Church or will not stop when we die, but even as our physical abilities fade the power of God is seen more visibly in us and He receives all the glory. Later on in this same letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). Here is the reality, that God’s strength and power are most magnified in us when we are weak, when we are at the end of our human strength and abilities. So, Christian, we are not to despair because our earthen vessels are not as strong or as vital as they used to be, or because we grow tired and weak, but we ask for and know that God’s strength will be magnified in us in whatever tasks we have ahead, that He may be glorified in our work for the kingdom of God in this world.
David Webber
David Webber is married to Mary with four children and four grandchildren, and serves as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Longview, TX. He obtained a BS in History from the University of Texas at Tyler, TX, and pursued studies at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, TX. Throughout his ministry, he has been an invited preacher and educator in numerous churches and various Bible conferences. Surrendering to the gospel ministry’s calling in 1972 at the age of 16, he received preaching licensure from Little Flock Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, in 1974. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1978, he was ordained in December of 1980 by Faith Baptist Church. Following this, he contributed his services to Faith Baptist in Longview and subsequently engaged with Grace Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where he instructed Sunday School and delivered sermons as needed. In February of 1994, Faith Baptist invited him to lead as their pastor, a role he has faithfully held to the present day. David writes a blog for the church website and is a writer for The Art of Worship.
More from David Webber
2 Corinthians 8:9
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” – 2 Corinthians 8:9
Job 14:1-2
“Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.” – Job 14:1-2
1 Corinthians 1:30-31
“And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:30-31
Proverbs 28:13
“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” – Proverbs 28:13
Psalm 119:41-42
“Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me.” – Psalm 119:41-42
Psalm 86:9
“All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.” – Psalm 86:9 (ESV)
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” – 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (ESV)