For a lot of items, people would lean towards buying them brand new. There’s just something about owning something straight from the packaging. However, sometimes items with cracks, dents, smudges, and flaws are worth more. Recently I saw a post about Mark McGuire’s 70th home run ball selling at an auction in 1999. A Major League baseball, which normally sold for $5 brand new, sold for 3 million dollars. At the time this was the most ever paid for a sports artifact.
This ball was used. It had discoloration and knicks. However, because of the story behind the ball it was worth an astronomical amount. We see the same with other artifacts. A pair of 1985 Nike Air Jordan’s sold for $560,000. Judy Garland’s ruby red slippers from the Wizard of Oz sold for over $6 million. A tennis racket that Serena Williams smashed in the US Open sold for over $20,000. These items weren’t sought after because they looked good, but because of the history behind them.
A lot of times in our Christian faith we want to look brand new. And while we are a new creation when we have accepted Christ, it is our flaws and brokenness that best show the gospel on display. In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul encourages his readers to allow their lives to shine the light of Christ.
“For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.” 2 Corinthians 4:6-10
Paul compares us to fragile clay jars. Jars during that time were all made on the potter’s wheel and while they looked durable, they were actually very prone to crack, chip, and break. However, Paul states that we have the light of Christ shining in our hearts. We contain great treasure and light in our fragile clay jar. What is the best way for light to shine out of the clay jar? It is through the cracks and brokenness that His light shines through the brightest.
As Christians, we don’t want to show our brokenness, troubles, or shortcomings. However, it is many times through those moments that the light of Christ can shine the brightest for others to see. When others see our weaknesses then they can only give the credit and glory to God for any good that comes from us. It makes it clear that the power comes from God and not ourselves.
Paul adds more about God’s power on display in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
We all want our clay jar to look polished, pristine, and perfect. But God doesn’t get the glory when that is all people see. God gets the glory and His light shines through our broken, cracked, and chipped parts. Others see Him best in our weakness. Will we allow Him to use all of our lives to show others His glory on display?
This blog was written by Amy Carrico: Author of Making the Moments Matter Blog
Last Updated on June 17, 2024
Wow, great message!