“20In a
wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of
wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the
cheap ones are for everyday use. 21If you keep yourself pure, you will be a
special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be
ready for the Master to use you for every good work.” (2Tim 2:20-21 NLT)
Being taught
about this scripture over the years, in Sunday School, at prayer programs, at
church, etc., I was given the notion that two vessels were presented in the
picture here. The expensive vessels were made from gold and silver and those
made out of wood and clay were the cheap ones as the verse on our primary text
calls them and I was told that if I purged myself, I will be able to be like the
first set of vessels made of gold and silver. We would pray, “Lord, I don’t
want to be made of wood and clay, I want to be a vessel of gold and silver!”
Funny thing is I even used it to cite examples when talking to people myself.
Then weeks ago, I read it for myself. This famous BIBLE verse! I finally
stumbled upon it by myself and the LORD taught me it anew HIMSELF and there He
showed me there is a third vessel in that verse. Let us check it out again and
read it together and then I will tell you a story or two to illustrate some
more about this most important vessel just as HE did to me.
“20 In a
wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of
wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the
cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a
special utensil for honourable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be
ready for the Master to use you for every good work”
Let me use my
own home as a typical example. We have three broad categories of plates in the
house. We have Daddy and Mummy’s plates, The Children/Normal plates and then
Special plates for special days (parties, ceremonies, etc). The interesting
detail is that no matter how beautiful the party plate is, it is never used to
serve daddy and daddy’s plate is for daddy alone and no matter how there are no
more plates to use during a party, you cannot use daddy’s plate to serve any
guest. As I pointed out earlier, Daddy’s plate is for daddy alone. Some days
ago, after serving breakfast, I was lazing around and didn’t wash daddy’s plate
till it was dinner time. When dinner was served, I looked for the plate and
remembered that it wouldn’t be in its place because it wasn’t washed yet. I
tried to serve with another plate, but it just wasn’t working as even the
fanciest of plates wasn’t good enough. I ended up washing his plates and wiping
them dry so I could serve him dinner.
This practical
example, to me properly explains the mystery of the third vessel which verse 21
calls the special utensil and in my own words “daddy’s plate”. The vessels made
from gold and silver are expensive and yes used for special occasions but GOD
wants to use us every day. Notice it is the 3rd vessel that is used by the
master and it says that it is for every good work! GOD is everywhere doing good
things every day. The life of JESUS here on earth shows us that. HE never did
good things only occasionally, HE was a man given to a daily life of good
works. Having this understanding, I chose to step up! I want to be a master’s
everyday plate and not just an expensive utensil brought out only occasionally.
As believers, our daily life should speak of HIS love towards mankind and we
should express it as well as we can and as often too. The concluding verses
show us how. You need not worry, it is not that difficult once we have received the SPIRIT of GOD and HE's alive in
us to help us: for the BIBLE says that it is GOD who works in us both to will
and to do of HIS good pleasures (Phil 2:13).
So, let’s take a look at the
concluding verses together and see just how we can be this honourable vessel
for the master’s daily use:
22 Run from
anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living,
faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the
Lord with pure hearts.
23 Again I say,
don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. 24 A
servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to
teach, and be patient with difficult people. 25 Gently instruct those who oppose
the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn
the truth. 26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s
trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. (NLT)
Remember that
no matter how good a visitor's plate is, this our master is LORD over every
other master and no guest is bigger than HE.
GOD actually
wants to use me for HIS glory everyday. I am a daddy’s plate!
I know GOD
will grant us understanding
You are eternally loved!
