Broken Pots

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the excellency of the power may be of God,
and not of us.

Have you heard the story about the water carrier’s two pots? Each pot hung on the end of a pole that she carried over her shoulders. One pot was perfect and watertight, but the other was cracked, and always leaked as it was carried home. After a long time of perceived failure, the cracked pot spoke to the woman and said “I am ashamed of myself, because the crack causes water to leak out all the way home, and I am only half full.”

The woman replied: “Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, and not on the other pot’s side? I know about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and everyday you water them. If you did not leak, the flowers could not grow.”

Like the cracked pot, we are imperfect. But God knows that. And He says that our weakness reveals the power of God. If we were perfect, how would we ever recognize the power of God? How could we ever truly appreciate His power, unless we are weak?

There are two sides to this truth. One is that we need not be perfect, or very strong or very learned to work effectively for God. After all, it’s not our strength or knowledge that will accomplish His purpose. The other is that when we do God’s will, and the result is perfect, the credit must go to God. So we know that by doing God’s will while being weak, we glorify God. We should be glad that we are broken pots.