Jars of clay

The sun tilted westwards as shadows of trees stretched eastward on the ground.

A woman, whose shadow slanted away from her, walked towards the cluster of thatched houses.

She had trekked five kilometres to fetch water from a stream that flowed down the rocky hills. Balancing a clay jar on her head atop a head pad, she made progress towards home.

Then, looking aside and missing her steps, she stumbled on a creeping plant along the path and fell.

Down went the jar that broke into pieces.

As she stood there frustrated, it was hard to tell what her bigger loss was: the precious water or her jar of clay.

Then she entered her house, grabbed another clay pot and headed back to the stream.  

Metaphors

Human beings are jars of clay, the Scriptures reveal. But clay is not the only imagery used to illustrate the relationship that exists between God and humanity.

Other metaphors include dust, sheep, goat, light, salt and so on. But to be referred to as clay is of particular interest because of its significance in our relationship with our Creator.

That significance is what we are about to study.

To start with, did you get the subtle connection between the woman’s clay plot and the water it contained?

When the breakable jar crushed, the water it contained escaped. What does that tell us?

It tells us that we are fragile and easily breakable.

Yet we have in us something symbolically precious like water; for water is life.

While we take care of our physical condition, we must be even more concerned about our spiritual condition, for that is our most precious treasure.

Precious treasure

The Apostle Paul put it more powerfully: "We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). 
In other words, “He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

This means God’s power and strength in us surpasses any force in the world.

Think about that woman and her clay pot for a moment.

She ought to have been more careful as she walked.

If we remember that we are but clay that is fragile and easily breakable, we should be more careful how we live.

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15). 
Repeat: the days are evil!

No bragging!

Being jars of clay reveals the need to be humble and modest in our self-assessment. If the woman’s jar of clay had bragged, thinking it was indispensable because it carried the water, where would her bragging be now?

One statement we should avoid making is: “Do you know who I am?” because the answer is, “You are nobody!”

That is why we are advised not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought.  

Indeed, there is nothing we can be or do without the help of God.

Therefore, if God sets us aside, he can raise others to take our place, said Jesus (Matthew 3:9).  

Remember: the woman simply entered her house and took another clay jar to replace the crushed one.

No one is irreplaceable.

Whatever abilities we have with which to serve God and humanity, "we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."

After all, electricity cables are like ordinary wires unless power runs through them to make them live and powerful.

Switch off the power and the cables become nothing to write home about.

It is for this reason that we draw close to the Lord as often as we can, for, as Jesus said, “Without me, you can do nothing.”

The reason pride goes before a fall is that pride exposes our “clayness”, which easily crumbles when it falls.  

A creeping plant gets to reach the top only by means of a tree. If the creeping plant becomes arrogant and thinks it doesn’t need the tree any longer, it will certainly collapse to the ground.

The potter’s clay

The prophet Jeremiah had a humbling experience when he went to the potter’s workplace and observed him at work.

It was there the Lord spoke to him:

“Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand... Can’t I do with you as this potter does with clay?” (Jeremiah 18:4-6).

God is sovereign and can shape and reshape us, just as a potter shapes clay.

While God does not change, he can alter his plans for us depending on how we relate to him.
Therefore, as clay, may we long to be moulded into pots for honourable use in the Lord’s household.

The writer is a publisher, author, writer-trainer and CEO of Step Publishers.

E-mail: lawrence.darmani@gmail.com