Proverbs 21-22; 2 Corinthians 4

Two summers ago, my family and I moved my mother-in-law from her home of 25 years to an apartment. Some serious downsizing took place. There were a couple of problems. My mother-in-law wasn’t inclined toward throwing much of anything away, organization wasn’t her strong suit and her memory was deteriorating. I remember getting ready to throw an old can of hairspray away (circa 1986) when she stopped me suddenly, “Don’t throw that away!” She had some jewelry stashed in the false bottom. We had to inspect every book, every knickknack before tossing to make sure that valuables weren’t hidden inside. The most ordinary of objects had potential value. It was a very long summer.

Back in Paul’s day, people hid their treasures in ordinary earthen jars and it is to these that he compares us to,

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay

to show that this all-surpassing power is from God

and not from us.”

2 Corinthians 4: 8

These verses offer incredible relief to someone who has carried the burden of perfectionism much of my life. The burden of trying to be someone extraordinary has been lifted. I want to live a life that honors the love of God showered down on me, but when it comes down to it, it isn’t me and my ability to represent God well that wins the day…it’s God’s TREASURE living within me. It’s all about the power and grace of his Holy Spirit taking up residence in this very human being. If that isn’t something to celebrate, than I don’t know what is.

“Therefore, we do not lose heart.

Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far out weighs them all.

So we fix our eyes not what is seen, but on what is unseen. 

For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

2 Corinthians 4: 16-18

Thank you Lord, that my life is about you and your goodness to me, not about my goodness or ability. Help me to lean in and relax into you today and accept the beautiful truth that you love me enough to come live in this ordinary frame. Amen.

klueh

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Ex. 16; Luke 19; Job 34; 2 Cor. 4

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

So many words jumping out at me. It started with manna in the desert. A grumbling bunch starving as they wandered. But the Lord provided … quail in the evening, bread in the morning. Moses tells Aaron, “Take a jar and put an omer of manna in it. Then place it before the Lord to be kept for the generations to come.” A testimony of God’s provision. Life-giving bread. Treasure in a jar.

And in Luke, reading the Parable of the Ten Minas. One man, then another, stands before the king, each one is commended for his work, his investment. Except for this one man who hid the treasure in a cloth, like a secret. Never invested.

I wondered about this parable: what did the mina stand for? I had always supposed it was spiritual gifts. Today I wondered, was it the word of God?

The Good News.

Jesus, Bread of Life.

Convicted in this, I wondered how my own investment was going. Teaching Jesus to my children, yes. And good. But my go-to friends, they’re all Christians. While we learn things together and encourage one another, I realized my investment lies largely in this.  Still, good, but when have I  recently invested in the life of an unbeliever and shared the good news of Jesus Christ?

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

From the desert–bread of life, the all-surpassing power from God–to treasure to be invested: Bread of Life to feed the hungry, the grumbling, the wandering. All of us.

Courtney (66books365)