DO NOT SETTLE TO DO COMMON THINGS, YOU WERE CREATED FOR GOD’S SPECIAL PURPOSE

SCRIPTURE:

“In a large house, there are articles not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. ²¹ Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.  ²²Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. ²⁴ And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. ²⁵ Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” (2Timothy 2:20—25NIV)

OBSERVATION:

            Paul, in his letter to Timothy, his spiritual son, addresses the issue of false teachers who have led others astray, causing them to deviate from the truth. Paul underscores the significance of Timothy’s role as a workman approved by God, one who rightly divides the word of truth. Timothy is urged to steer clear of futile arguments that only serve to ignite disputes and division. 

            Timothy has to choose to distance himself from the false teachers Paul mentioned earlier, namely Hymenaeus and Philetus. Their teaching spread like gangrene and has ruined people’s lives.  Paul wrote, In a large house, there are articles not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for everyday use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for particular purposes, made holy, applicable to the Master, and prepared to do any good work. 

            There are two kinds of people in God’s house: those of gold and silver and those of wood and clay—one for special purposes and the other for everyday use.  In reality, in God’s house today, it is up to us how we want to be used by the Lord.  God has called us to his service.  The question which one are you? 

            Paul mentioned to Timothy what qualifies one to be approved as the kind of person God wants to use. Paul said those who cleanse themselves from the latter would be instruments for particular purposes, made holy, applicable to the Master, and prepared to do any good work.  We must choose whether we are only for everyday use or God’s purpose.  So many believers settle for just being an everyday use.  I want to be used for specific purposes God has for me to do.

            Paul said that to be a person with a particular purpose and to be approved by God; one must cleanse oneself from the mindset of a common-use vessel. A person authorized by God has been made holy and is ready to help the Master and do any good work.  

            Paul listed the things that one has to be cleansed from to be a person approved and has been made holy for God’s use:

• Flee the evil desires of youth
• Pursue righteousness
• Pursue faith
• Pursue love
• Pursue peace
• Call on the Lord with a pure heart
• Don’t have anything to do with foolish arguments
• Must be kind to everyone
• Must be able to teach
• Must have no resentment toward others
• Must be gentle with their opponents in the hope of leading them to the knowledge of the truth

God is looking for the Timothy’s of our time with “gold and silver” like attitude for his service.  God wants us to be cleansed from a “wood and clay” attitude in service to him.  We are not for common use.  We are for a special purpose. God wants us to do good work. 

APPLICATION:

            I sometimes want to do things with a wood-and-clay attitude.  However, I learned today that God disapproves of that attitude.  Wood and clay are just for those uninterested in God’s things.  They want to do it just for the sake of doing it.  However, the “gold and silver” attitude does its best to offer the best to the worthy one.  Today, I am told to give my best to God and avoid doing everyday things people do to the Lord. 

PRAYER:             Father, please help me give you the best and not just do everyday things.  I want to provide you with my all joyfully and be found faithful in your sight.  Please teach me to cleanse myself from things that prevent me from doing what you approve of.  I look to serve you with a heart like gold and silver.  You are worthy