The Believer’s Treasure

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. - 2 Corinthians 4:7

    By God’s grace, the child of God is different than those who do not know Christ. Every person is an earthen vessel, but the believer has a treasure, which the unbeliever does not have. This makes the difference. God has given his people this treasure he may receive the glory, and not us. This treasure is a gift of God to poor sinners who are undeserving and powerless. From this text, let us consider a threefold treasure which I believe comprises the whole of the believer’s life in this world.

    The first, without which there would be nothing else, is Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest treasure that one could have. Everything else is but dung compared to Him. To have Christ is to have everything. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption (1 Cor 1:30). One could have all of this worlds goods, but without Christ all would be nothing—Christ is all, and in all (Col 3:11).

    Second, the believer’s great treasure in this world is the Gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel is the record that God has given to his people concerning his Son and their redemption in Him. The Gospel is the revelation of Jesus Christ, the living Word of God. The child of God treasures the Gospel more than anything in the world because it speaks of him who is altogether lovely. The one who has the Gospel has the greatest of treasures and would dare to die than part with it. The desire and treasure of the believing heart is to hear the Gospel of Christ proclaimed.

    Third, to the believer, the preaching of the Gospel is the great joy and rejoicing of his heart. To hear the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ proclaimed is a treasure from God, without which the believing sinner cannot live. Those who can live in this world without consistently hearing the preaching of the Gospel live in this world without Christ. He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God (Jn 8:47). We have this treasure because God, in his sovereign grace, is pleased that we have it. The excellency of the power of God is Christ, and he is revealed in the preaching of the Gospel to chosen earthen vessels, which is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth (Rom 1:16).