Preached on the occasion of Rev. F. McLeod’s Ordination at Dornoch on 5th October 1926.
BY THE REV. W. GRANT, HALKIRK, CAITHNESS:
THIS second epistle was written by Paul from Macedonia, after Titus had returned from Corinth, and informed him how the Corinthian Church had received his first letter. The information brought by Titus mingled sorrow with joy in the Apostle’s heart. The activities of Judaizing teachers, together with certain serious irregularities, caused anxiety and grief. Against these he witnessed faithfully. He had rejoicing, in that the preaching of the Gospel among them was fruitful in the life and conduct of the true followers of Christ. He writes of these in the preceding chapter—”Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men.”
The Apostle sought to magnify his office, not himself, and to vindicate the ministry against the accusations of false teachers. As proof of their integrity, he states the fact that he and his fellow-labourers “preached not themselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord,” by whom they had “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God,” or as it is expressed, “the glorious Gospel of Christ.” All talents, gifts, and graces were employed preaching Christ. They were to view themselves and be viewed by others as “earthen vessels,” and when the Word preached yielded fruit, they were to regard that as proving the reality of the possession of the treasure, for “Paul might plant and Apollos water,” but the increase must be from God.
Let us consider the text as the Lord may enable us, observing—
I. What this treasure is.
It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which in Scripture is represented to us variously as “a light,” “a net cast into the sea,” “a seed,” “a pearl,” and here as a “treasure.” May we not view it as a treasure on account of (a) its excellency? What so valuable as the Gospel of Christ?—good news for a fallen race. “It is better than the merchandise of silver and the gain thereof than fine gold.” The bankrupt sinner, impoverished by sin, is enriched by it with durable riches. (b) For its abundance; “The exceeding riches of His grace.” In his Epistle to the Romans, the inspired writer exclaims—”O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” It enriched the countless multitude of redeemed ones in glory, and yet it is not in the least diminished. (c) For its reality as opposed to what is counterfeit. It is a treasure of light, of glory, of knowledge, and that of God (v. 4). It satisfies—more could not be given. This treasure was once hid, but is now revealed—”Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints.”
II. Where it is—”in earthen vessels.”
The Lord revealed this treasure in Himself, it was there in its source, without vessels, but He graciously condescended to use human instruments. “It is in us,” says the Apostle, “as in earthen vessels,” and may be compared to the lamps in Gideon’s pitchers. The Author is God, and the sent messengers of Christ are but vessels. “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?” (I. Cor. iii. 5). They are weak, fragile, worthless vessels in themselves. It is by the grace of God they are what they are in possessing this treasure. Hear what the great Apostle had to say of Himself—”I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” When despised for the meanness of their condition, the afflictions to which they were subject, their infirmities, the true ambassadors for Christ gloried in the treasure, calling themselves “the servants of Christ.” But when the excellency of their persons was overvalued, they called themselves “earthen vessels.”
How did they desire to be accounted of by men? “As ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God,” as men of whom faithfulness was required, and having been “put in trust with the Gospel.” Trustees are bound to carry out the trust, with literal exactness. Some may dispute the trust, others may wish to alter a clause, but the faithful trustee abides by the written document. He is simply an administrator, and must carry out the terms of the trust. At the present day many act as if the Gospel of the grace of God needs improvement. Some wish to get rid of the atonement, others of such doctrines as “the fall of man,” and “future punishment,” claiming these to be “old-fashioned dogmas.” We who profess to be stewards have nothing to do with these demands, but to preach the Gospel as we receive it. These are drifting times, and we are exhorted to “hold fast and not be driven about with every wind of doctrine.” Men may be brilliant in oratory and in profound learning, possessing splendid talents, which are not to be despised, but generally people are dazzled by such gifts, and see not beyond the man—a poor substitute for “the treasure.”
III. Why it is in “earthen vessels”: that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
This power is seen in the awakening of the dead and reviving of the living—the success of the Gospel. “I neither received it (the Gospel) of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” It is evident that Paul reasons on the principle that men look to the immediate cause and see not the hand of God. He remembers the exhortation of the Holy Spirit: “Let no man glory in men,” and reminds the Church at Corinth: “That God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are; that no flesh should glory in His presence.” Thus we find tentmakers, fishermen, shepherds—men despised as unlearned, ignorant of philosophy, the most unlikely in the eyes of proud man—chosen to be “vessels unto honour.” It is true that the Lord did choose some, possessed of extraordinary talents in learning and otherwise. He enriched them with much grace, whereby they were in their own experience but “earthen vessels,” and thus kept humble. O happy earthen vessels! made meet for their Master’s use—”His strength made perfect in their weakness.” See the excellency of this power in comforting and sustaining them—”We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.”
When the cripple, at the Gate Beautiful, was healed, Peter and John had to rebuke the Jews for giving them glory, who were but instruments. By way of illustration, I would draw from an experience when in the business world. We had occasion to handle, for banking purposes, some diamonds, valued at many thousands of pounds. They were placed in a small box of worthless appearance. Why such a valueless receptacle? Because of thieves, who were very active. Since the fall we all possess a “thievish nature,” ever ready to rob God of the glory due to Him. He, therefore, ordained that we should have this “treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us.” “His glory He will not give to another,” and against this, proud self is at war.
In conclusion, let us seek grace to extol the wisdom and love of God for giving such an inestimable treasure in earthen vessels. Further, we should highly esteem the vessels for the sake of the treasure, and not despise them if they lack what is so popular with the world. The latter is more attracted by fine diction, style or delivery, and wit, than by the precious treasure. The occasion of our meeting here to-night—the ordination and induction of a pastor in your midst—is, we believe, a token of the Lord’s favour towards you. May the “earthen vessel” be sustained in the work laid to his hand, and the Gospel through him be greatly blessed to many souls. Without the Gospel, all is desolation. Alas! how widespread the desolation is. Seek “the treasure,” and remember, if the Gospel be hid, “it is hid to them that are lost.” There is no salvation apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. We need the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit to make us willing debtors to free and sovereign grace. The realities of death, judgment, and an endless world are before us. If we die Christless, it will mean a lost eternity. Attend the means of grace—public and private. May the Lord provide many labourers for the Great Harvest, and bless our gathering together.