BEING USEABLE
Text: 2 Timothy 2:20-26
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
1. Vessels Of Special Service (v. 20)
- In verse 20, Paul talks about vessels that are used in a house. Some are gold, silver, special; some are wood, clay, common. Some are used for honorable purposes; some for dishonorable (common) purposes.
In our homes we may have china and fine silverware. But we may also have Tupperware and plastic flatware.
What Paul has to say about being a useable vessel is not in reference to
2. The Condition Of Special Service (v. 21)
- The one condition for being used in service is to be
And note here that the responsibility for the cleansing lies with the individual.
The phrase “purge himself” is from the Greek ekkathairo, which has the same root as the English word “catharsis.”
- When your emotions are cleansed by a powerful experience it is cathartic.
Paul used this word indicating that the vessel must be thoroughly scrubbed and disinfected
The condition for being used in service is cleansing.
1) Vessel of honor
- If cleansed, then a person becomes a vessel of honor. This isn’t about inherent worth, but rather intended purpose. The cleansed vessel will serve an honorable role. A
2) Sanctified
- If cleansed, then a person is sanctified, set apart for a specific purpose.
3) Useful to the Master
- If cleansed, then a person is meet for the Master’s use, i.e. useful, useable, etc.
- A person that is cleansed is now useful and profitable when used by God in service. Without cleansing, God can’t
4) Prepared unto every good work
If cleansed, then we now are ready to be used, prepared, on standby, ready to go, etc.
In terms of Christian leadership and service, the
3. How To Cleanse For Special Service
1) Flee youthful lusts (v. 22)
- “Youthful lusts” are those things that rob even an older person of his or her contentment (e.g. lust for money, power, control, admiration, achievement, sex, etc.)
- Cleansing is not simply about emptying the contents of the vessel (container, bowl, etc. It is also about scouring and cleaning the vessel.
2)
- Pursue righteousness (doing what is right to others).
- Pursue faith (place your trust in God).
- Pursue love (extending grace to others by seeking their good).
- Pursue peace (within, with God, with others).
3) Avoid (v. 23)
- Avoid what Paul call the moronic and uninformed
4) Influence (v. 24)
Teaching (v. 24)
Longsuffering (v. 24)
Application:
1) What
2) Are we “