We Do Not Lose Heart

There’s a proper balance of confidence and grief in ministry, but due to indwelling sin, we regularly display an ungodly abundance of one or the other. Instead of boasting only in the cross, we strut our way home feeling good about our choice of illustration or our complimented leadership. Or maybe we’re more familiar with the post-gathering sulk that can’t see much beyond the fact that no one said “thank you” or sought our counsel before making a significant decision.

               Cocky pride is destructive but also pretty easy to spot. Discouragement, on the other hand, seems to fly its bombers below the radar and pose a different kind of threat. The list of foolish things to do in disappointment are legion, but the Lord has been kind to save me from harm through this helpful sermon from John Piper - “We do not lose heart” . It has been a balm to me and has sent me into 2 Corinthians 4, eager to meditate on the grace waiting for us there.

In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul is addressing the church about the terrible threat of losing heart in ministry. It seems what he has to say in this chapter is sandwiched between two references to this dangerous foe. In verse one, he says, “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart,” and then the final paragraph begins with the words, “So we do not lose heart.” If Christian ministry is going to keep marching onward, it has to deal with the pervasive temptation to quietly wilt or quit with a loud bang.

               As Paul worked to plant and cultivate healthy churches for a global harvest, he knew he needed to help discouraged disciplers. I see in this chapter three elements of Christian ministry that help us to be strong and courageous as we press on to obey Christ’s commission.

The Vessel

Set apart by mercy: As Paul seeks to encourage and help the weary minister of the gospel, he begins by describing our work as one received by divine mercy, “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.” As pastors, ministry leaders, Sunday school teachers, or parents, we need to remember that we are worthy of bearing Christ’s name among the nations, as we are of being called his children. Our adoption is not earned, and by that very same mercy, we are included in the work of church building.

               This may sound counterintuitive, especially to those who teach a class that keeps them up late on Saturday preparing or those who have endured the competitive seminary environment. Ministry often doesn’t feel like a gift. It feels like a reward or even an earned wage. We have learned foreign alphabets, case endings, vocab, and syntax; we have forfeited sleep and savings accounts; we have gone into debt; we have had our lives inspected, and all this can foster an attitude of entitlement. This attitude toward ministry appointment is neither righteous nor sane for those who teach and train by the mercy of God. Dear minister, your ministry is yours by mercy and not merit. You have certainly worked hard, but you have not earned it.

Servant-hearted clay pots: Inverse 5, Paul tells us that Christian ministry is one of proclamation: “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.” You and I swim in a sea of self-promotion, not servant-hearted Jesus proclamation. This is the natural man’s inward curvature, which takes our God-ordained calling to image our Creator and wrenches it to set ourselves apart for praise.

               This servant-hearted posture is further elucidated with the image of the clay jar in verse 7: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” The awesome task and joy of announcing the risen Savior has been placed in the care of earthen vessels. This isn’t delicate or cute. Clay jars were used for their inexpensive dependability. They got the job done with very little fuss, and when it was time to replace it, that task was easy.

               There’s certainly enough of the flesh still at work within us that make shearing our lives compared to a cheap bottle hard to hear, but it’s often the folly of pride to both forget that from dust we came and to dust we shall return. It may not pass through into acceptance all at once, but look at how Paul speaks of his life as a clay jar in verses 16-18. He says his body is “wasting away,” and that the visible quality of his life is one of transience. This isn’t the experience of the family heirloom prized by multiple generations, but it is the life of the Christian minister.

               Brother, sister, you are a transient and crumbling vessel. Life will wear you down, and there will be no way to hide the cracks. This isn’t terribly heart-warming, but it certainly level-sets those pesky expectations we have of ourselves and our ministry. God’s word seems to calculate far more weakness in us than we often assume for ourselves. If we’re going to endure instead of losing heart, we need realistic expectations of ourselves, and Scripture calls us servant-hearted clay pots set apart by mercy.

The Treasure

“Clay pots” alone isn’t a complete or fully suitable description of the Christian minister. Verse 7 tells us that there is treasure in these jars of clay. The Christian life is one of serving instead of being served, but it is service of the highest order and importance.

               What is this treasure that is stored by divine wisdom within weak vessels like you and me? Verses 5 and 6 tell us, “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” The treasure stored within us is the gospel glory that Jesus is Lord. This treasure is not merely facts about the birth, life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and heavenly session of Christ, but also the unmatched power of the Creator who spoke light into existence. The treasure we carry as ministers is the gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation and brings life out of death and light out of darkness. In the same way that God spoke light into the deep, dark, void of Genesis 1, God also now speaks life into dead human souls that would never, ever choose to know God or embrace his promises.

               Paul uses this creation language again a few verses away in chapter 5, verse17, where he says, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has com.”. The glorious treasure that we clay-pot-Christians carry is the planet-speaking and beauty-birthing power of God’s choosing that alone gives sight to men, women, and children who were once blinded in their minds by the Devil!

               Fellow minister of the gospel, you’re beset with weakness and failure whether they write a biography about you or not. But fear not; you are busy doing awesome work!

The Purpose

Let’s be honest. This pairing of weakness and unmatched power seems a little crazy. Our minds may be marked by the fall, but they’re also pre-primed to sniff out irrationality. This combination may not make sense all the time, but let’s not forget that while we live in a sensical world, this planet is also covered in dry snow and wet sand.

               While the coupling of weakness and strength may impose a pressure on our rational expectations, we must submit to God’s wise rule. We are told in 4:7, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” God intentionally deposits the glory of regeneration and revival in flimsy fools like you and me for the purpose of doing a work for which only he could be praised.

               We Christians need all of our sick days, yet we press on. We are regularly confused and make mistakes, yet we don’t quit. We get scolded and fired, yet the Lord sustains us. We are often visited by depression and discouragement, but by grace, we find the light. The weakness and difficulty we so often lament is described by the apostle like this, “always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our bodies”(4:10).

               Brothers and sisters, God has called us to proclaim Jesus as Lord to every corner of the world, and he has chosen to project the light of the glory of the crucified Savior on our weak lives. Jesus’ burdens, betrayals, disappointments, and assaults shine on us, but in our lives, the world sees Jesus, and God’s power is manifested for his glory alone.

Don’t lose heart.