HARD-PRESSED ON EVERY SIDE
7 BUT WE HAVE THIS TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS, THAT THE EXCELLENCE OF THE POWER MAY BE OF GOD AND NOT OF US.
8 WE ARE HARD-PRESSED ON EVERY SIDE, YET NOT CRUSHED; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.
16 THEREFORE WE DO NOT LOSE HEART. EVEN THOUGH OUR OUTWARD MAN IS PERISHING, YET THE INWARD MAN IS BEING RENEWED DAY BY DAY.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
18 WHILE WE DO NOT LOOK AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN, BUT AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT SEEN. FOR THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN ARE TEMPORARY, BUT THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT SEEN ARE ETERNAL."
2 Corinthians 4:7-12,16-18 (NKJV)
The treasure of God is put in the earthen vessel, which is the human body. The treasure that Apostle Paul was referring to in the passage is the light which God has shown in the hearts of whoever is born-again or redeemed: FOR IT IS GOD WHO COMMANDED LIGHT TO SHINE OUT OF DARKNESS, WHO HAS SHONE IN OUR HEARTS TO GIVE THE LIGHT OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST" (2 Corinthians 4:6 NKJV).
God wanted to prove His supremacy, that is why He put the treasure in the earthen vessel—a fragile vessel that could be broken. He wanted It to be known that the excellence of power, power beyond measure, is of Him, God, and not of man—the vessel being used (2 Corinthians 4:7).
This shows the abundance and infinite wisdom of God. When the earthen vessel, which is fragile, is pressured, It would remain unbroken because of the treasure in it. In other words, God is using the weak things to confound or shame the strong or mighty, and the base things to bring to nothing things that are (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).
Believers are the earthen vessels being referred to in the passage, no matter the pressure that is mounted on the vessel, the believer being used, It remains unbroken—such a believer remains undeterred, unbroken and unconquerable. Apostle Paul shares some of the challenges they went through in the course of propagating the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:8-12). But they did not lose heart or get discouraged as a result of the challenges (2 Corinthians 4:16). Similarly, every believer should have this approach to whatever they are assigned to do by God. Though, you might be having hurts in your physical body, you should not lose heart or allow that to stop you from doing whatever God has called or said you should do: "THEREFORE WE DO NOT LOSE HEART. EVEN THOUGH OUR OUTWARD MAN IS PERISHING, YET THE INWARD MAN IS BEING RENEWED DAY BY DAY" (2 Corinthians 4:16 NKJV).
Note:
• Through the challenges being passed through, your inward man, your recreated human spirit, is being renewed or reinvigorated daily. Unlike believers who are doing nothing for God, whoever is working in the kingdom is being spiritually renewed and empowered for more work to be done even though such is passing through challenges or facing difficulties (John 15:1,2).
• It should also be known to you that the affliction being passed through is for a moment. The affliction is called a light or minor one, and also, It is for a moment, a short time. In other words, whatever is the suffering in the assignment given to you, It is for a moment.
• Another truth that should be known to you is, the affliction is working for eternal weight of glory—perpetual abundance of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Admonition:
a. You should be undeterred, be discouraged, in the face of challenges or afflictions; because the things we see are temporary, but the things we do not see are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). Whatever the affliction or challenge, It is temporary.
b. As a believer who has heaven as his or her goal, the focus should be much more on the things which are not seen and eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).
c. Do not quit whatever you are doing for God, either as a full-time minister or a lay-worker in God's vineyard. Affliction should not be the reason for quitting whatever you are doing for God.
Peace.