Vessels for Honor—Vessels for Dishonor

Vessels for Honor—Vessels for Dishonor

“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.” 2 Tim. 2:20-21.

God’s stewardship is great. He guides and orders matters so that everything and everyone will be to the praise of His name in the end. He has many vessels, because He has many different works to be performed. He raised up Pharaoh to glorify His name in him. Pharaoh was a vessel for dishonor. He was not used to do any good work; nevertheless, all his stubbornness and haughtiness were still used to glorify God’s name. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from these vessels for dishonor, he will become a vessel for honor, useful for the Master, ready to do every good work.

Moses went out from Pharaoh. He wanted to keep himself pure from the vessel for dishonor, and so he became a vessel for honor. He was given good works to do. Therefore we must cleanse ourselves from all those who do evil and walk unseemly. We can never have fellowship with such vessels for dishonor and also be useful and prepared for every good work. We must be separate and sanctified so that God can use us to be a blessing.

When Saul persecuted David, they ended up in the same cave. David’s men wanted him to kill Saul, but David spared Saul and said to him, “Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you. As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand shall not be against you.” 1 Sam. 24:12-13.

David was a vessel for honor. He did not want to execute an evil work; God had a sufficient number of vessels for dishonor to do that. David had a higher calling than to curse and destroy.

“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” Rom. 12:19.

If we are a vessel for honor, we must not let ourselves be used for the purpose for which the vessels for dishonor are meant to be used. In this instance David was put to the test, and he passed the test so that he could continue to be used to build up the inheritance of the Lord. Quite often we are also put to the test, and there are many who sully themselves with such evil works that they can no longer be used for good works. We are called to bless and not curse. We are not to avenge ourselves. God has enough vessels for dishonor to do that work. Wickedness proceeds from the wicked, and all things work together for our good, to those who love God.

“Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that the made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.” Jer. 18:3-4.

We can be sure that this is how it goes with many people with whom God is working. They do not become a vessel for honor to which God has called them. They break on the day of trial, and such breaks can never be completely made whole or right. God has to make such a person into a less honorable vessel.

Saul was called to be a vessel for honor; he was put to the test, but he broke. He was supposed to wage war against the Philistines, but Samuel had ordered him to wait until he came and had offered up the sacrifice. Saul waited for as long as the people were with him, but when they left him, he was afraid and brought the sacrifice himself. When he was finished sacrificing, Samuel came, and he said to Saul: “Because you have not kept the commandment of the Lord which He commanded you, your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart to be commander over His people.” 1 Sam. 13:8-14.

This was a trial of Saul’s faith. God wanted to prove His power to men that He could save through Saul, but the vessel broke. When the people left him, he became afraid. He was made into a less honorable vessel, but he broke again in the war against the Amalekites. 1 Sam. 15:22-28. This is how it went with Saul until he became a vessel for dishonor.

What God calls us to in these days is to believe in Him alone. He wants to prove to an unbelieving world through us that He is mighty to save. However, if we do not believe any further than we can understand, we will not be a proof to the world. But when all supports and expectations fail, and we see no way out, but are still bold and proclaim that the Lord is our helper, then God can reveal Himself through us to people and make what is impossible possible, to the great amazement and shame of the unbelievers.

There have been many cracked vessels in this trial of faith. To be sure, they endured until the last hope and support failed, but then their faith also failed. They found relief in a human way so that everyone could understand it; but God could not be seen in it.

Joseph became a vessel for honor. He came into many and great trials, but he endured. Through his life we can see how God could be seen in everything. When everything visible failed, and human reckoning went wrong, Joseph believed, and God’s power was revealed to his house as well as to all Egypt.

To believe is the same as laying down your life. Then all light is extinguished, and it becomes dark for our human reasoning. If we do not withdraw, but lay our life down and enter into this darkness, God will be revealed; for He is the only One who commanded that light should shine out of darkness. By faith we understand. We must first become fools so we can be wise. God is above all human ways of thinking; He does not blend His thoughts with our thoughts. Otherwise we could say, “My own hand has saved me.” Judges 7:2-9.

The light that God kindles in the darkness shall never be extinguished. The wisdom from above is what I understand by faith. By faith the ancients received a good testimony. That testimony will never die. Our tried faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes, will be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. 1:7.

We have been chosen to be rich in faith. Jas. 2:5. On this way we become vessels for honor, useful for every good work.

May God help every one of us so we can be that vessel for honor that He has ordained us to be. May God lead us in such a way that He can be seen in our life, and we become that testimony which He has called us to be to an unbelieving world.