"For our present troubles are small and won't last very long.
Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last
forever!"1
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on opposite
ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in
it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of
water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the
cracked pot arrived only half full.
For two full
years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots
full of water in his master's house.
Of course, the
perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it
was made, but the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and
miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to
do.
After two years
of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one
day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to
you."
"Why?"
asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"
"I have
been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this
crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's
house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get
full value from your efforts," the pot said.
The water
bearer felt sorry for the old, cracked pot, and in his compassion, he said,
"As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful
flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old,
cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wildflowers on the
side of the path, and this cheered it some.
But at the end
of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so
again it apologized to the bearer for its failure. The bearer said to the pot,
"Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path,
but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your
flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the
path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them.
For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my
master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this
beauty to grace his house."2
We all have our
own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. Many times, it can be discouraging,
and we may feel like we are not fulfilling our purpose. But if we allow it, the
Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table. God will use us just as we
are if we are willing.
Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank you for choosing to use me despite
my imperfections. I ask that you allow me to focus on the things I can do,
instead of what I can't do, and do it with all my might for your glory. Thank
you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus' name, amen.
2 Corinthians
4:17 (NLT).
www.sermoncentral.com