Young People's Group

A Vessel for Honour

by Mitchell Tan
September 15, 2017

SOME FOR HONOUR, SOME FOR DISHONOUR

What kind of servant of God we are matters to Him. We can either be an instrument that would bring honour to Him or dishonour. The apostle Paul used a great house as a metaphor for the kingdom of God. In this big house, there are different types of vessels.

“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honour and some for dishonour.”
2 Timothy 2:20

1. DIFFERENT VESSELS FOR DIFFERENT USES

In a big house, there are vessels of gold and silver and also vessels of wood and clay. The expensive vessels are used for special occasions. The inexpensive vessels were used for common things. It does not matter what kind of vessel we are. What matters most is that we are useful to Him.

2. ARE WE CLEAN VESSELS OR DIRTY VESSELS?

When a vessel is dirty, it cannot be used. Instead, it brings dishonour to the master of the house. If the vessel is clean, it will be useful and honour would be given to the master of the house. Hymenaeus and Philetus are those who had strayed from the truth and brought dishonour to the Lord. Whether we like it or not, we are all vessels for the Lord. What kind of vessel are you before Him matters to Him. Do we bring honour or dishonour to Him?

THE CHALLENGE TO BE A VESSEL FOR HONOUR

“Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, He will be a vessel for honour, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”
2 Timothy 2:21

1. THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A VESSEL FOR HONOUR

A. THE PURIFYING PROCESS

In order for a servant of God to be equipped well for ministry, he needs to be cleansed deeply. The word “cleanse” means to be washed thoroughly. If we want to bring honour to God, we need to reject and set aside all that is sinful and wrong in our lives. The challenge is for us to be cleansed from all that is dishonourable. We are to depart from all iniquity (2 Timothy 2:19).

B. THE TRAINING PROCESS

We also need to be trained and to be prepared for the Lord’s work. It is important that we learn to follow the Lord and be trained as His disciples. There is the need to grow in our knowledge and to learn to rightly divide the word of God (2 Timothy 2:15). There is the training of our character and to develop our faith and spiritual life. We need to also develop our spiritual gifts (2 Timothy 1:6).

2. THE PRODUCT AFTER CLEANSING

When we are cleansed and trained well in the Lord’s way, we will indeed become a vessel for honour. We will be sanctified and useful for the Lord. The word “sanctified” in Greek has the idea of being holy and set apart. We are meant to be servants of God who are distinct from the world and He can use us in every good work. Our commitment is to please Him in all that we do. Let’s seek to be vessels for honour that we can be used by our Master to bring honour to Him.

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