2 Timothy 2:20-21
“Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”
In this passage we get a picture of a great house, full of vessels (or dishes). Some of these vessels are used every day for common uses, made of wood and earthenware. But some of these vessels are made of gold and silver and are saved for special occasions to be brought out and beheld. These vessels of gold are the ones that are brought out to show the splendid design of their maker, and to show the beauty with which the master crafter formed them.
Think of the grand house in this parable as the Church here on earth, full of all kinds of people – (the vessels). Some are common, unrefined dishes made of wood and clay – these are the Christians who put little effort into becoming more like Christ. But some of the vessels are laid with pure gold and silver, striving day after day to become more and more submissive to God’s commands, displaying the beauty of their creator. In this passage, God not only tells us that we can decide which kind of vessel we want to be, He shows us how to become which one. If you wish to remain in common use, not drawing closer and closer to Christ, content with your current state, then simply do nothing; you will never grow and you will never shine His light more radiantly. But if you desire to be that silver and gold vessel, letting the world see the work of the craftsman, He says to cleanse yourself from what is dishonorable. If we do this, God says that we will be useful to the master, ready for every good work.
Let me be sure to state that our good works do not define our value in the eyes of God. Even our best attempts at righteousness are so far off that we could never do enough good to make God love us. But when we reach out our hands and say “Jesus, I have no good in me, but I know you’re full of all kinds of good. Please give me your goodness, and your righteousness.” It is then that God will overlay you with gold and silver, making you a vessel for honorable use in the house of the Lord.
“Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”
In this passage we get a picture of a great house, full of vessels (or dishes). Some of these vessels are used every day for common uses, made of wood and earthenware. But some of these vessels are made of gold and silver and are saved for special occasions to be brought out and beheld. These vessels of gold are the ones that are brought out to show the splendid design of their maker, and to show the beauty with which the master crafter formed them.
Think of the grand house in this parable as the Church here on earth, full of all kinds of people – (the vessels). Some are common, unrefined dishes made of wood and clay – these are the Christians who put little effort into becoming more like Christ. But some of the vessels are laid with pure gold and silver, striving day after day to become more and more submissive to God’s commands, displaying the beauty of their creator. In this passage, God not only tells us that we can decide which kind of vessel we want to be, He shows us how to become which one. If you wish to remain in common use, not drawing closer and closer to Christ, content with your current state, then simply do nothing; you will never grow and you will never shine His light more radiantly. But if you desire to be that silver and gold vessel, letting the world see the work of the craftsman, He says to cleanse yourself from what is dishonorable. If we do this, God says that we will be useful to the master, ready for every good work.
Let me be sure to state that our good works do not define our value in the eyes of God. Even our best attempts at righteousness are so far off that we could never do enough good to make God love us. But when we reach out our hands and say “Jesus, I have no good in me, but I know you’re full of all kinds of good. Please give me your goodness, and your righteousness.” It is then that God will overlay you with gold and silver, making you a vessel for honorable use in the house of the Lord.