Cracked Pots
By Karen D’Amore
“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.”
2 Corinthians 4:7 (NLT)
The story goes that a water bearer in India carried two large pots hanging from a pole that lay across his neck. One of the pots was perfect, but the other one was cracked. Every day as the water bearer carried water from the stream to his master’s house, half of the water in the cracked pot would leak out. Every day for two years, he was only capable of delivering one and one-half pots of water. The perfect pot was proud of his accomplishments, while the cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfections and miserable that it only accomplished half of what it was designed to do. One day, the cracked pot shamefully apologized to the water bearer for its inability to deliver a full pot of water. “Because of my flaws, you have had to work hard without getting the full value for your efforts,” said the cracked pot.
Having compassion on the cracked pot, the water bearer told it to notice the beautiful flowers along the path which they traveled each day. Then the water bearer said to the cracked pot, “Did you notice that the flowers are only on your side of the path and not on the other pot’s side? You see, I was well aware of your flaws and I used them to my advantage. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, which you watered every day, as we journeyed from the stream to my master’s house. For two years you have enabled me to pick beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being who you are, he would not have had this beauty to grace his house.” 1
We are clay jars (earthenware vessels) made of common, ordinary material, which in itself has little value. Just as jars/vessels are designed to hold something, we as Christ-followers, were designed to hold a great Treasure - - “Living Water. ” Made from material that is easily chipped, cracked or broken…we are at times “cracked pots.” Well aware of our flaws, God allows nothing to go to waste in His economy. As His Light shines best through the cracked and broken places in our (pots) lives, He will turn that which the world considers trash into God-glorifying treasure.
Let Living Water spill out of your clay jar, and may your flaws and weaknesses be used to grace the Master’s table!
GOING DEEPER:
1. Are you allowing God to redeem everything (including your flaws) for His purpose and glory?
FURTHER READING:
(1) www.talkjesus.com; Author Unknown (paraphrased to fit)
Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon. She’s a leader for Oakwood’s Tuesday a.m. Bible Study and a volunteer at the Wildlife In Need Center.
