Behind my Grampa’s house was an old shed. On the floor were pots – piles of terra cotta clay pots in all sizes. They were mostly old, dirty, and crusted with a layer of white mineral salts. Some had chips; some were cracked. I ignored them. (The toy trucks in the corner were far more appealing!)
An image of these pots came to mind as I read in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, “Yet we who have this spiritual treasure are like common clay pots.” Now at first look, I’m afraid I didn’t find it very flattering to be compared to a common clay pot!

Whatever did Paul mean?

During Biblical times clay pots were plentiful; they were cheap; they were everywhere; they were an everyday article with ordinary uses. Clay pots held water or food. Sometimes they held things of greater worth, such as money, jewels, or even parchments. (The Dead Sea Scrolls were found in such containers.) The common lamp of that time was a clay pot. It was a cheap clay pitcher or jar containing olive oil and a floating wick.

Aha, it seems clay pots were useful. Perhaps there’s a message here that we are to be useful in our Father’s household.

The disadvantage of a clay pot – it cracks and breaks very easily. Does this mean that we break easily also, that we are likely to be thrown out? I don’t think so, but it does show us to be frail and weak. And so we are.

But let’s finish the verse we were reading, “Yet we who have this spiritual treasure are like common clay pots, in order to show that the supreme power belongs to God, not to us.” 

2 Corinthians 4:7.

Looks like a little lesson in humility here. Yes, we possess a spiritual treasure — God’s presence, God’s light, the Good News of the Gospel. But, we are frail, human vessels of the earth. In our very commonness and plainness, the grandeur and greatness of the message is shown to be from God and not from ourselves.

Don’t ever be ashamed of your commonness or your weakness. You are a useful vessel in God’s household. He has entrusted you to be a bearer of his beautiful message of love. You need not be a vessel of fine gold. He asks only that you serve as His clay pot, so that His message can shine forth in all of its glory. Yes, once again He’s showing His love for you.  God loves you; God loves you unconditionally.

Judy

Today’s Reading is 2 Corinthians 4:7-9: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+4%3A7-9&version=NRSV