Riches, honours & comforts
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"But we have this treasure in clay vessels." 2 Corinthians 4:7
How different is the estimate that the Christian makes of riches, honours and comforts—from that made by the world and the flesh! The world's idea of riches are only such as consist in gold and silver, in houses, lands, or other tangible property. The world's estimate of honours, are only such as man has to bestow.
The world's notion of comfort, is "fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind." But the true Christian takes a different estimate of these matters, and feels that the only true riches are those of God's grace in the heart, the only real honour is that which comes from God, the only solid comfort is that which is imparted by the Holy Spirit to a broken and contrite spirit.
Now, just in proportion as we are filled by the Spirit of God, shall we take faith's estimate of riches, honours, and comforts. And just so much as we are imbued with the spirit of theworld, shall we take the flesh's estimate of these things.
When the eye of the world looked on the Apostles, it viewed them as a company of poor ignorant men—a set of wild enthusiasts, who travelled about the country preaching Jesus, who they said, had been crucified, and was risen from the dead. The natural eye saw no beauty, no power, no glory in the truths they brought forth. Nor did it see that the poor perishing bodies of these outcast men contained in them a heavenly treasure, and that they would one day shine as the stars forever and ever—while those who despised their word would sink into endless woe.
The spirit of the world can never understand or love the things of eternity—it can only look to, and can only rest upon, the poor perishing things of time and sense.