Becoming a treasure in Jars of Clay

I hate play dough. I do. My kids, however, love it. They love it because it feels great, it smells like  a sugary treat, and it comes in an array of bright neon colors,. It is every kid’s dream, and every parent’s nightmare. I like the fact that the kids have so much fun with it. What I don’t like is the mess it leaves behind on the table, floor, and carpet. The kids inevitably step in it and it becomes molded to the fine nap of the carpet and makes an imprint on the soles of their shoes. It is so difficult to remove because it naturally molds into whatever it makes contact.

            2 Corinthians 4:7 says “ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show this all surpassing power is from God and not from us.” I am reminded of this verse as I think about the idea of play dough. Play dough is so easy to mold into whatever the holder wants to create it to be. The play dough never puts up a fight to become what it wants to become. In fact, its ingredients , or the things that make it up allow it to yield to the object in which it interacts.  That could be the holder’s hand, the table,  or any other object that leaves an imprint. My kids love the character play dough molds because they can press the play dough and instantly make the shape of the desired character.

In the same way play dough does this, so does clay. In this context, Paul writes it is because of God’s mercy that they live uprightly: they have renounced shameful ways, they have not been dishonest with anyone, or perverting God’s Word.  He then goes on to say that he knows their hearts –they are light in darkness in jars of clay so that people will know it is Him and not them,. I believe he uses this analogy to show that their hearts are yielded towards God’s power to use them and to accomplish His work in their lives