Young People's Group

A Vessel for Honour (II)

by Mitchell Tan
September 22, 2017

THE COMMITMENTS OF A VESSEL FOR HONOUR

A servant of the Lord must be cleansed before he can be used by the Lord. The priests and Levites in the Old Testament had to be ceremonially cleansed before they could serve in the tabernacle. The prophet Isaiah also had to be cleansed before he could be sent by God (Isaiah 6:7). Even in ministry, the prophet Jeremiah had to set aside that which is vile (Jeremiah 15:19). Before we can be vessels of hour, we too need to be cleansed and stay cleansed. There must be commitment on our part to ensure that we are pure. It was in the light of this that the apostle Paul challenged Timothy to flee from that which is wrong and pursue that which is right. This principle of fleeing and pursuing was not something new that Paul was employing. In his first epistle to Timothy, he had challenged him to flee foolish and harmful lusts and to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love patience and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11). In his second epistle, the principle of fleeing and pursuing was employed in the context of being a vessel of honour.

1. FLEEING YOUTHFUL LUSTS

“Flee also youthful lusts …”
2 Timothy 2:22

The word “flee” in Greek has the idea of fleeing away that we may escape from wrong and carnal lusts. They were considered by Paul as desires that were associated with being young. One who desires to be rich can lust after money and the things of the world (1 Timothy 6:9). Lust can also be seen as a fleshly lust for woman which was disapproved by the Lord Jesus (Matthew 5:28). Drinking wine can also be a problem where a person lusts after it and becomes a drunkard in the process. Young people, let’s flee from any form of lust that can tempt and entrap us in sin. The challenge is to not give any chance for such carnal passions to take hold of us.

2. PURSUING RIGHT CHARACTERISTICS

“… But pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
2 Timothy 2:22

The word “pursue” has the idea of “hunting” after something. It is putting every effort into pursuing these things and not stopping until we have them. Fleeing and pursing go together. Not only must we flee from all that is carnal, we must pursue the things that really matter in life and in ministry. They are righteousness, faith, and love and peace with each other. They come as a cluster and we are to pursue all of them at the same time. We are to pursue after personal righteousness before God, a stronger faith in the Lord, and love for each other. There must also be peace with all who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. The word “pure” in Greek is derived from the word “cleansed”. We all can be vessels of honour when we can relate to each other peacefully.

3. AVOID WRONG DISPUTES

“But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.”
2 Timothy 2:23

One of the problems that can arise is disputes among ourselves. When we allow worldly ideas and youthful lusts to take the better of us, we can end up with foolish and ignorant disputes. This shows how moronic and thoughtless we can be. Such disputes are to be totally rejected because we know how they can create much strife and animosity against each other.

“The beginning of strife is like releasing water;
Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.”
Proverbs 17:14

When we start a quarrel, it can bring about strife. When people start striving against another, it is very hard to stop it. It is better to stop contention so that a quarrel could be avoided. Let’s avoid totally any form of disputes.

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