珍惜瓦器般的生命(耶十九)中英bilingual

你要在同去的人眼前打碎那瓶，對他們說：「萬軍之耶和華如此說，我要照樣打碎這民和這城，正如人打碎窰匠的瓦器，以致不能再囫圇。並且人要在陀斐特葬埋屍首，甚至無處可葬。」(耶 19：10-11)

神要耶利米先知使用各種方法喚醒選民，因為明知不可為而為之，所以所用的方法越來越激烈。這次神要耶利米買瓦瓶，根據資料記載可能是一種裝油的長頸瓦器，然後在宣告神的警告後，應聲打碎。

瓦器打碎，必然發出一定的響聲，也會吸引人一定的注意力。神為何要耶利米如此行？因為瓦器就如同選民的生命，也如同猶大國整個國家，一旦打碎，就不可回復(「囫圇」原文做「修理」)，就只能成為一堆碎片。

打碎，是逼不得已的結果，代表已進入無可挽回的餘地。古時的器皿，就只有瓦器一種材質，破了，就再也沒有用途，正如同人的生命結束一樣。所以經上說：

在大戶人家，不但有金器銀器、也有木器瓦器。有作為貴重的、有作為卑賤的。人若自潔、脫離卑賤的事、就必作貴重的器皿、成為聖潔、合乎主用、預備行各樣的善事。(提後 2：20-21)

器皿，就像是一個人的生命。金、銀、木、瓦都是器皿的材質，就如同一個人聰明才智。「金」或「銀」好比是天生比較聰明的人，但是金和銀卻不是神眼中器皿貴不貴重的依據，而是在於是否懂得「自潔」(自我保持聖潔)。在神眼中，願意自潔的人，願意脫離卑賤的事，就是貴重的器皿，如此一來就不需要面對被打碎的命運；若是濫用自己的聰明、仗勢自己的優越，為非作歹，惹神的憤怒，就是卑賤的器皿，無論材質有多麼高貴，最終要被神棄絕。

其實不用羨慕別人優秀的天資與過人的能力，天生擁有高貴材質的人，反而容易陷入高傲、最後被打碎的風險中。高學歷、能力強的工人，若因此跌倒而被神棄絕，就成了將要被神打破的瓦器。

想起使徒彼得曾在美門口，對著渴望恩典的瘸子說過的一席話，總是讓我深深地感動：

彼得說：「金銀我都沒有，只把我所有的給你，我奉拿撒勒人耶穌基督的名、叫你起來行走。」(徒 3：6)。這句「金銀我都沒有」，道出了金銀並不是生命貴重與否的最重要因素，真正的價值，是懂不懂得讓「耶穌基督的名」來進入我們的生命，也就是願意接受生命的改變，成為主名下的人，願意作被聖靈所充滿的聖潔容器，過著讓主來做主的人生。彼得在此取而代之的是「只把我所有的給你」，這裡他的「所有的」，就是主愛我的福氣，於是要將我曾經白白得來的，如今也要白白地捨棄給你。

但是，如果像耶利米先知當時的猶大人一樣，仗勢自己是神的選民，然後恣意作賤自己那曾被神以重價買來的生命，如此地辜負天父真神的美意，最後就只能被打碎，永遠丟棄在黑暗之中。

因此當思想，我們那如同瓦器的生命，到底裝進去了甚麼？是如世人一樣裝了自以為是的價值，如：財富、名利，甚至是噁心不堪的情慾、汙穢的東西？如果裝了這些，就會成為神眼中卑賤的器皿，結局就是被打碎，甚至是焚燒。

那麼，甚麼是該裝進我們這生命的瓦器裡的寶貝？那就是如同橄欖油般的聖靈，在這之前要先願意倒空自己，還要洗刷一番，成為聖潔，否則忌邪的神是不願意進入這骯髒的瓦器中的。要知道：「人若自潔、脫離卑賤的事、就必作貴重的器皿、成為聖潔、合乎主用、預備行各樣的善事。」因為合乎主用的器皿，是主所愛用的，既然為主所珍惜，怎會遭遇被打碎拋棄的命運？

你們要追求與眾人和睦、並要追求聖潔，非聖潔沒有人能見主。(來 12：14)

By 高春霖

真耶穌教會石牌教會、天母教會線上講道

石牌教會https://www.youtube.com/@TJChurchShipai

天母教會https://www.youtube.com/c/TJC_Tianmu/featured

Treasure Your Life, As an Earthen Vessel (Jeremiah 19)

 July 16, 2026

 “Then you are to break the jar in the sight of the men who accompany you, and say to them, ‘This is what the LORD of armies says: “To the same extent I will break this people and this city, just as one breaks a potter’s vessel, which cannot again be repaired; and they will bury their dead in Topheth, because there is no other place for burial.”’ (Jeremiah 19:10–11)

God instructed the prophet Jeremiah to use various methods to awaken His chosen people. Although Jeremiah knew that his efforts might appear useless, he was still commanded to carry them out. As the people continued to refuse to listen, the methods God used to warn them became increasingly severe. This time, God told Jeremiah to buy an earthenware jar—according to some sources, possibly a long-necked vessel used for holding oil—and then, after proclaiming God’s warning, to crush it before the people.

When an earthenware vessel is shattered, it inevitably makes a loud sound and draws people’s attention. Why did God command Jeremiah to do this? The vessel represented the lives of God’s chosen people, as well as the entire nation of Judah. Once it was broken, it could not be restored. The word translated as “repaired” carries the meaning of being mended or made whole again. The vessel could only remain a pile of broken pieces.

Being shattered was a last resort, signifying that the situation had reached a point beyond recovery. In ancient times, earthenware was one of the most common materials used for vessels. Once such a vessel was broken, it could no longer fulfill its original purpose. In this sense, it was much like the end of a person’s life. Therefore, Scripture says:

 “Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver implements, but also implements of wood and of earthenware, and some are for honor while others are for dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be an implement for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:20–21)

A vessel is like a person’s life. Gold, silver, wood, and earthenware are the different materials from which vessels are made, just as people possess different levels of intelligence, talent, and ability. Gold and silver may represent those who are naturally more intelligent or gifted. Yet in God’s eyes, the material of the vessel does not determine whether it is honorable or valuable. What matters is whether a person is willing to cleanse himself  (remain holy). In God’s sight, those who are willing to cleanse themselves and turn away from dishonorable things become vessels for honor. Such vessels do not need to be shattered. However, if people misuse their intelligence, take pride in their superiority, commit evil, and provoke God’s wrath, they become vessels for dishonor. No matter how precious their natural abilities may appear, they will ultimately be rejected by God.

There is no need to envy the exceptional talents or remarkable abilities of others. In fact, those who are naturally made of seemingly precious material may face an even greater danger of becoming proud. If workers of God who are highly educated and capable become proud because of their abilities, fall into sin, and are rejected by God, they become like earthen vessels shattered by Him. I am always deeply moved when I remember what the apostle Peter said at the Beautiful Gate to the man who was lame and longing to receive mercy:

“But Peter said, ‘I do not have silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!” (Acts 3:6) Peter’s words, “I do not have silver and gold,” reveal that silver and gold are not the most important factors in determining the value of a life. The true value of life lies in whether we allow the name of Jesus Christ to enter and transform us. It means being willing to change, allowing Christ to become the center of our lives, becoming holy vessels filled with the Holy Spirit, and living lives in which the Lord truly reigns. Peter continued, “What I do have I give to you.” What Peter possessed was the love of the Lord. The Lord had first loved him and had freely given everything to him; therefore, Peter was now willing to freely give to others what he himself had received.

However, if we behave like the people of Judah in Jeremiah’s time—relying on our status as God’s chosen people while carelessly degrading the lives that God purchased at such a great price—we will disappoint the loving intention of our heavenly Father. In the end, such a life can only be shattered and cast away into darkness forever.

We should therefore carefully consider what we are continually placing inside our lives, which are like earthen vessels. Are we filling them with things we mistakenly regard as truly valuable, such as wealth, fame, and status? Or are we filling them with shameful lusts and other filthy things? When the wrong things are placed within us, we become vessels for dishonor. The final outcome of such vessels is to be shattered or even burned.

What, then, should we place inside our lives, which are like earthen vessels? We should be filled with the Holy Spirit, like a vessel filled with olive oil. Before this can happen, however, we must first empty ourselves and be thoroughly cleansed so that we may become holy. Otherwise, our jealous God will not be willing to dwell within a filthy vessel. We must always remember: “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be an implement for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” Because the vessels that are suitable for the Lord's use are loved by the Lord, since they are cherished by the, how can they encounter the fate of being broken and abandoned ?

“Pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)

By Chun-Lin Kao