In the beginning when the LORD God proceeded to make man in His image in order to exercise dominion, the making process comprised two components, namely the vessel or container and the content: “So God created man in his own image… And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Gen 1.27; 2.7). So a living soul in the original plan of God is a composite of container (dust formation or earthen vessel) and content (breath of God). The container is earthy, while the content is divine. This prime narration of God’s making of man shows decisively that man, as viewed in God’s sight, is simply ‘container’ and ‘content.’ Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 talked about what the LORD God had done in them and affirmed this truth: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (v. 7). Put simply, God’s plans always involved the formation of man (vessel) and the impartation of His breath (treasure) in order for His will to be done on earth. Consequent upon this, we shall briefly explain what God’s treasures implies, the kind of vessel God wants to form as exemplified by Jesus Christ, and what we should do to become such vessel.

GOD’S TREASURES

God’s treasure simply refers to what God values, i.e. what is of a great price in His sight. There are hints in several passages of the Scriptures on some aspects of God’s treasure. For example, God presented Himself to Abram like this: “I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward” (Gen 15:1). Consequently, Abraham and his descendants like Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Samson, David and other saints of old have found the presence of God with them to be more precious than anything else (Gen 26.3; 28:15; 39:2, 21; Ex 3:12; Josh 1:5; Jug 16:20; 1Sam 16:13). The apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ also received the promised Holy Ghost, the token of God’s presence to them, who is more precious than anything else for their lives and work. In fact, that was the only thing the Master promised and gave them after His departure (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4). The personal presence of God is the most important treasure we should seek to possess in our vessels.

Other aspects of the treasures of God, which are dependent on the presence of God, include the following: virtue or godly character (Prov 31:10; Gal 5:22-23; 1Pet 3:4); faith (1Pet 1:7); wisdom, the price of which is above rubies (Job 28:18; Prov 3:13-15; 8:11); the Blood of Christ (1Pet 1:19); promises of God (2Pet 1:4), etc. All these are invisible and entirely from God, and they constitute the basis for any meaningful influence in the world. God’s plans involve forming vessels into which He will put His treasures, the ultimate of which is Himself: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith…that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Eph 3:17-19). This invaluable treasure of the divine presence that God puts in us is what manifests as the glory or excellences of our lives (2Cor 4:7b; Col 1:27).

GOD’S KIND OF VESSEL

We find in Jesus Christ a perfect example of the kind of vessel God desires: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” was God’s declaration concerning Him at His baptism when the Spirit of God lighted upon Him (Mt 3:16-17). In committing His Spirit to Jesus, the Scripture says that, “For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him” (Jn 3:34). More so, Jesus Himself testified to this when He said: “Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body has thou prepared me” (Heb 10:.5). Therefore, He obtained a testimony in His life and works that “…God was with him” (Jn 3:2; Acts 10:38). Jesus, although the Son of God, learned obedience through suffering unto perfection, and He became the Author (fountain) of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Heb 5:7-9). In other words, He fully exemplified the kind of man that God needs for effective life and service on earth: an earthen vessel (“a body”) with a heavenly content (“the Spirit of God”).

On our part, the Scriptures also describe us as vessels that are meant to contain a treasure of inestimable value, namely the Holy Ghost. God has spoken about this concerning us in several ways when He affirms that: we are the temple of the Holy Ghost (1Cor 6:19); we are sealed with the Holy Ghost (Eph 1:13); God’s power is at work within us (Eph 1:19; 3:16-20); the anointing of God abides in us (1Jn 2:27); and Christ in us is the hope of glory (Col 1:27; 1Jn 5:11-13). All these Scriptural assertions point to the kind of relationship and spiritual experience that we, as earthen vessels, ought to have with God’s treasure, namely the Spirit of God.

Suffice it to note here that the value that your life offers is dependent on the kind of content you carry in your earthen vessel. That is why people who have useless content within them produce all sort of foolish, hurtful and useless manifestations of the flesh and of the spirit of this world. Likewise, the glorious, powerful and timeless manifestations of the lives of men like Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles are all a product of the divine treasure of God’s presence and blessings they had within them (2Cor 4:7).

CONCLUSION

What then can we do in order not to waste our vessels bearing useless contents? What must we do to become that kind of man and woman that God originally made and intended to exercise dominion on the earth? What should you do to become an earthly vessel with a heavenly treasure? It is simply to do what the Lord counselled us to do, namely to present our bodies to God and to purge ourselves (Rom 12:1; 2Tim 2:21). The treasure of our Father is inestimable, and He is very much willing to release them to us. However, He needs suitably prepared vessels for His treasures, because He will not give what is holy to dogs, nor cast His pearls before swine (Mt 7:6, 11). We must therefore yield ourselves to His making process. We pray that the LORD God will find in us vessels of honor for His treasure. Amen.