RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-06-09	We Are Hard-Pressed But Not Crushed (2Co.4:8)
		2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 2Co 4:8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 2Co 4:9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 2Co 4:10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. The apostle Paul compares the gospel ministry to a “treasure in earthen vessels” (v.7). In Paul's metaphor, God stores the priceless gospel ministry in fragile, everyday human vessels. Paul goes on to list some of the real hardships he and other ministers of the gospel encounter (v.8-9). “Earthen vessels” are jars of clay and are very common. The ministry of the gospel is the most valuable treasure on earth. Notice the contrast. Common everyday earthen vessels contain the most valuable message of all time. Paul cites four contrasts to show the lives of gospel ministers are like ordinary jars of clay containing such a precious possession. The first is, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed.” Paul describes the hardship (hard-pressed) and the corresponding display of God's power (yet not crushed). “Hard-pressed” means trouble or suffering, and “crushed” speaks of being afflicted to the point of hopelessness. It describes a situation without any hope of escape or survival. He is saying that even when placed under the most severe pressure, the “earthen vessel” will not be broken because of the great treasure held within. Though these vessels are frail and made of dust we are not hopeless because of God's sustaining power within. Paul often spoke of suffering as part of the Christian experience. This is especially true for ministers of the gospel (Ro.8:17; Ga.6:17; Ph.3:10-11). So, we should not be surprised or give up when we experience hardships. 2Co 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. We have hope in this life because we know that the difficulties we endure as believers will give way to future glory in the world to come. Our suffering has an eternal purpose (2Co.4:11). 2Co 4:11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. The life of Christ is displayed through what God does in our weakened earthen vessels. Our sufferings give opportunity for God's power to be revealed. Our sufferings also bear witness to the death of Jesus and His resurrection life (2Tm.2:11). Paul never sugar-coated the Christian experience, and neither should we. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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