BROKENNESS, NOT JUST BRILLIANCE

A dear son in the faith got a birthday gift of an expensive bottle of perfume. He placed it on the table forgetting that his ten-month-old nephew was around. The baby got a grip of the bottle of expensive perfume, and you know the end of the story – the bottle broke and the fragrance that had been locked up in the bottle filled not just the house but their compound. Everyone who came in began to speak about the fragrance that filled the compound. They gave my beloved baby boy a new name- Alabaster Box!

Every believer has a fragrance that is locked up in us. Paul calls it a treasure that is carried in earthen vessels:

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV

Beloved, this fragrance must be spread everywhere:

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere,

2 Corinthians 2:14 AMPC

Every child of God carries a sweet fragrance that must fill the earth. However, this fragrance is not unlocked by brilliance alone but by brokenness. God is not looking for the most brilliant of men to carry this fragrance but the most broken of men.

Broken men are men who will not argue with the instructions of the Lord because they are calculating based on their exposure and experience.

Broken men can rely on the “effective” foolishness of the sling and stone while men expect them to parade in the armour of Saul.

Broken men know when to be as good as a lion and yet understand how to be as calm and gentle as a lamb. Their voices are not heard but their impact cannot be denied.

Broken men know that character cannot be sacrificed because of reputation. They will not ask for honour to project an image when there is a matter of disobedience that has been left unaddressed.

Broken men know that sacrifices cannot replace obedience. Their heart is the sacrifice they have laid before the Lord.

The words of brilliant men are “Not so, my Lord!” They have a better opinion than the instructions of the Lord, but the words of broken men are “Lord, not my will, but your will be done”.

The broken man has no opinion before His Lord and Master. A brilliant Moses had a sword and a powerful speech that he wanted to use to set the nation of Israel free, but a broken Moses had lost both by the time the Lord of Host beckoned on him. A man mighty in speech has become a stammerer at the burning bush.

Pride dies when you encounter God. “I” has no place any longer. “Mr. Flesh” has no voice again. Why? Brokenness has taken over brilliance.

A broken couple does not seek to be right; rather they seek to be one. They do not sacrifice oneness for the penchant of winning an argument. If truly you are broken, you know that when you go to God to complain about your spouse, He will speak to you about areas you need to work on. He can tell you to be “patient” or “apologise when you are not wrong”.

Thank God for brilliance. We have a lot of brilliant believers. But can we ask the Lord for brokenness? It is the brokenness that releases the fragrance.

Will you be God’s Alabaster Box?

© temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa