Earthen Vessel

The best wine is kept in earthen vessels.

"When pride comes, then comes dishonor. But with the humble is wisdom." -Proverbs 11:2 (NASB)

There is a wise counselor to a king of a certain kingdom. He was fair, just and kind in his judgment. He was also good-looking. The daughter of the king, the princess was so jealous of him. The king listened to him more than her.

The princess wanted to humiliate the counselor and discredit him to the king. So one day, she sarcastically questioned him, "Tell me, why did God in his great wisdom put all the intelligence in you, you're just a plain and ordinary man?"

He asked her in response, "Where does your father the king store up his fine wine?"

"In earthen vessels" the princess replied.

The counselor said, "Why just in earthen wares? Even the poor and the peasants place their wine in an earthen ware. They are just plain and ordinary. Why not keep them in gold or silver cups and vessels? I wonder why not."

Then, he left her. The princess immediately called the chief steward and went to the wine cellar. She ordered that wine must be pour out of the earthen vessels into vessels of gold and silver.

After sometime the king hosted a banquet. He invited all his royal court. He ordered to serve his best wine. And when they sipped the wine, it tasted sour and stale. The King because of shame was so furious. He called the chief steward and asked to explain everything at the pain of death.

The chief steward revealed that the princess, her daughter ordered him to put wine from earthen vessels into vessels of gold and silver. The princess was publicly reprimanded.

She then went in haste to the counselor and told him, "You made me a fool! You have tricked me! You put me into shame!" The counselor answered her, "No, I did not trick you. I just taught you a lesson."

God indeed places wisdom into plain and ordinary creatures, to the humble. Wisdom, like wine, is kept in humble earthen vessels.

Prayer:

Lord, make me humble. Thank you for the wisdom. Amen.