By David Phillips
“Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” ~ 2 Timothy 2:21
What could possibly be a higher ambition than to be useful to the Master? The illustration Paul uses here places God in the position of being the Master of the house, and you and I as vessels or utensils of various kinds for performing household functions, in His service. What could be more worthless than a utensil that is not useful? Maybe you, like me, have a drawer full of them in the kitchen. How useful are we to the Master?
Some folks are useful to the Master only after they get up and going. They rarely feel like they should be “on call” in case some unexpected need in the Kingdom arises. They can be productive only after they have had time to wake up, drink their coffee and read the news of the day. Obviously, I’m being ridiculous here, and being a slow-starter may be okay when getting our morning routine off to a start, but somehow this doesn’t translate well into the realm of spiritual activity.
Some are useful to the Master only after they have been prodded, cajoled, and shamed into action, never seeming to have open eyes toward constant opportunities. We are sheep, we all need leading, but we are also vessels, and vessels shouldn’t have to be remanufactured periodically. In the text above, …prepared for every good work implies a certain readiness.
For some, useful to the Master seems to be a second- or third-choice option. In verse 20, Paul has mentioned vessels to honor and vessels to dishonor. Clearly, the matter of …cleanses himself from these things is a reference to ridding our lives of hindrances and contaminations that prevent us from being a vessel for honor, sanctified… Selfishness, negligence and carelessness, impurity and immaturity are the kind of things that hinder our service to the Lord, if we allow them to dwell in us. They cause us to waver in our efforts to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Nothing about me deserves to be first, ahead of God.
Be useful!