Many of the modern Christian leaders were not physically attractive nor did they come from families of high social or economic standing. Rather, they were very ordinary people, from very ordinary circumstances but God used them beyond their limitations.
How can God use us? The answer to this question can be found in II Timothy 2:20-21 where Paul uses the metaphor of pots and pans in a big house. “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanse himself form the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” A master does not use all the vessels and cutlery in his house.
There are at least three conditions for the master to use the articles. First, they should belong to him, secondly they must be useful, and thirdly they must be clean! Must belong to the Master:Paul always identified himself as a servant of Jesus Christ. Every follower of Jesus should have this sense of a relationship of belonging to Jesus. Bible describes the relationship between Jesus and his followers by using various metaphors like; Friends, Servants, Children of God, and Citizens of Heaven… It is this sense of belonging to God and the risen Lord that keeps us in the first place worthy to be used by God. Let us make sure that God will not have to borrow an article for his use from elsewhere, but we will be found belonging to Him. Must be useful:Usefulness is certainly important too. I have at least two penholders on my table and they are full with pens and pencils of all types.
However, many times I have to try two or three pens before I can find the one that I can use to sign or write. Many of them are there but may not have refills, or have ink dried in them. Just being there in the holder does not matter. That is what Paul highlights by the phrase, “useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work” (v. 21). It is sad that many Christians find themselves not useful to God whenever God needs them. We must spiritually stay fit for any work whenever God wants us. Must be clean: We need to remember that the Master is very strict about cleanliness. He wants all furniture to be polished, floor to be clean, shelves to be dusted; he insists that He will use only those articles that are clean. The call to “flee” in v. 22 is directly linked to being “holy” of v. 21. Personal holiness is a pre-condition for being used by God. God does not use as any condition that we are in; we must be in a condition that God insists on and should certainly meet God’s standards. Great men and women whom God used had a personal relationship with him, they were useful vessels and they met God’s standards of purity. That is the secret of being used by God.
Author: Dr. Paulson Pulikottil is professor of Old Testament and Head of the Department of Biblical Studies at Union Biblical Seminary, and pastor of Community of the Redeemed, Pune, India.
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