2 Timothy 2:20-22, New King James Version

"But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

There are two kinds of people in this world. And in the passage we just read, Paul says the same thing except for the church. There are only two kinds of people in the church. Which kind are you?

Verse 20 describes two kinds of people:

"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."

Paul is comparing the church to a large house. Imagine having a huge banquet at a rich person’s house. You would have gold and silver utensils and dishes. Those are the ones you would have brought out for a big banquet. They are what’s fitting at a fancy banquet in a big house.

But you also would have some others that wouldn’t be appropriate to bring out for a big banquet. You would have some wood and clay that are fine for being used behind the scenes like your everyday utensils or plasticware. And you would have to have some that are just dishonorable. You don’t want to serve fancy hors d’oeuvres from a garbage pail. You need a garbage pail, but you don’t want to serve food from the garbage pail. You wouldn't set the table for a big festival dinner with cheap plastic knives and forks.

The church is a great house. It’s been richly furnished by Jesus Himself. And you are part of it. But what kind of vessel are you? Nobody wants to be a garbage pail when we could be something better in the great house that Jesus has created. Don’t waste your life and settle for being a garbage pail at the table Jesus has set.

So, how do we become great utensils for the Lord to use?

So, what can we do? Verse 21 shows us what to do:

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.

If you are a wooden or clay vessel in a large house, you are never going to be a gold or silver vessel. But if you are a dishonorable vessel in the church, there’s hope for you. Cleanse yourself.

Taking action to take inventory and get rid of anything that doesn’t belong so that we can be useful for service to our Lord. Clean out what’s dishonorable, and you will “be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”

Paul tells us of things we should "flee.” “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.” Run away from false teaching and argumentative people. Flee from these things, because they will damage the church. He also tells us of things to pursue to be pure: Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”

We don’t want to be dishonorable vessels. So, Jesus, help us to cleanse ourselves. I pray that everyone who reads this will trust in Jesus and be transformed by Him. And then I pray that we would run as far and fast away as possible from immaturity and false teaching, and instead be transformed in our minds and our actions to be people who are just like Jesus.

We want to be a church who has become vessels for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 

Remember, there are two kinds of people in the church: Useful and dishonorable. Cleanse yourself so you can be useful to God, and ready for every good work. Don't settle to be plasticware when you can be fine China!