Sometimes, we all need to check our egos at the door. That goes for pastors and preachers also. Seems like when we start accomplishing things, the tendency is to start believing that it’s all about us and not the power within us. I guess we all tend to want to be rock stars, even in the kingdom of God. And the tendency for many is to start worshiping a great preacher or messenger. Paul addresses this to the Corinthians. He reminds them that he is simply a servant of Jesus and it’s all about Christ as Lord.
And it’s even more pronounced in our lives when everything seems to be going well. But the true test of our faith is when we encounter trials and difficulties. How do we react then? Probably, being a rock star is not uppermost in our mind. Paul reminds the Corinthians of who we are, even in the most difficult of times, in Christ Jesus. Maybe you can identify with these.
I love the way he gives us a visual image of who we really are. And addressing the “Light” that is in us. “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (vs. 7). Then he reminds them and us of the value of the ‘treasure’ in us.
- Hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;
- Perplexed, but not in despair;
- Persecuted, but not abandoned;
- Struck down, but not destroyed.
If it were just us, any one of these four would take us out of the game. To be victorious in the Kingdom, we must get out of the way and follow what John says. “He must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn. 3.30 ESV). Remembering, it’s always been about Jesus!!