Becoming an Honorable Vessel
“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master…” (2Tim 2:14-21 NKJV)
Today’s reflection includes the call to be ‘diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth,’ and to be a ‘vessel for honour, sanctified and useful for the Master.’ This finds me still beefing about last week’s synagogue leader who complained when Jesus healed a woman on a Sabbath and broke her eighteen-year-old bondage (Luke 13:10-17). Jesus openly disapproved of this leader. A friend recently reminded us of what a vessel is: a ship, a container for holding liquids, a tube, or an artery or a vein that contains or transports blood throughout your body. For each option of definition, there is much danger when you imagine a defect in that vessel: the ship can sink; the precious liquid will be lost; and if an artery or vein is raptured, a life will be lost! To be a defective vessel is really dangerous.
There is a second leader I will attack soon, but let us first finish the one in Jesus’ synagogue. He was not rightly handling the Word; he did not pay attention to the details of people’s needs in order to rejoice at the woman’s healing. He introduced useless arguments about religious observances of which Paul warned seriously (2Tim 2:16,23); these are warning for us today – that we set our eyes on what God is watching, and attentively pursue His mission with a burden for His people. You cannot become an honorable vessel while still under the bondage of religious legalism. Jesus Christ sets us free from this and attendant arguments so that we can serve as approved workers.
“Therefore if anyone cleanses himself…” The second leader that needs serious help is the one who hopes to continue in noble honorable service without cleansing himself/ herself. This is impossible! Youthful lusts may pursue, but you must flee. A preacher-friend of mine is good at giving lists, for example ‘N steps to becoming an honorable vessel’. Let me try to draw some five from today’s text that is part of Paul’s important parting words to Timothy the growing leader: First, surrender your life fully to God and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour; second, listen to God’s Word consistently and grow your learning of the truth; third, identify useless and time-wasting entertainment, gossip, arguments and disputes, and avoid them; fourth, flee evil desires – opportunities will remain abundant for stumbling and falling in sexual immorality, quarrels or some other sin, but you must flee and mortify those fleshly desires; and repent and rise up again if you fall. Finally, five, avail yourself always and participate in the Master’s work.
God bless you!