Sibling rivalry; where two children from the same family find themselves at odds with each other. You see this acted out when two children have similar interests, desires, or even when both are seeking attention from one or both of the parents. This rivalry can be positive, as when both are motivated to excel in a sport or in academics. But it can also be dangerous, when this competition leads one or both to seek destructive ends in the pursuit of superiority.
As many of you know, I have three brothers; two older and one younger. The older two are separated by
2 years, and my younger brother and I are separated by the same; with seven years between the pairs. So as you can imagine, there were plenty of situations where sibling rivalry played a part in our family dynamics. We teased, we competed, we fought; usually in good natured spirits. But that wasn’t always the case.
One such situation occurred at our cabin. Mark and Greg (my two older brothers) each had an affinity for one specific aluminum drinking glass. They would battle over who was going to get that particular glass.
Until one day, when Greg (the younger), decided he was going to make his claim of ownership with resounding emphasis. He took his unwashed bare foot and thrust it into the glass. Mark was so offended and repulsed by the gesture; he vowed to never use that glass again. And as far as I know, he never did; which put a never-ending smile on Greg’s face.
You see, Mark understood that there were right and wrong uses for a drinking glass. His conviction was that this line should never be crossed. Greg on the other hand, defined that standard a bit more loosely.
Our text from 2 Timothy actually speaks to this issue:
2 Tim 2:20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.
Most of us understand this principle. In fact, many people have multiples of several things: separate brooms for house and garage, separate washcloths for body and dishes, separate toothbrushes for teeth and tile, etc. It would be unthinkable for most people to mix them up (especially the toothbrushes).
But think for a moment about the origins of each of these items. When the broom was hanging on the rack at the store, was there a tag on it stating, “For garage use only!” What about the toothbrushes? Was there a sticker on the package somewhere that cautioned the user to only us the toothbrush on bathroom tile? No. The use of the product was left up to the buyer, the owner.
You see, even though we can’t imagine using a gold-plated serving spoon for garden work, that doesn’t mean it’s wrong to do so. It’s up to the owner to make that decision; regardless of the intent of the designer. The purpose of a thing and the potential uses of that same item can result in two very different lists.
The question the owner often asks himself is, “What do I possess which will help me get this job done?” not, “What do I own that was designed to do this specific task?”
Our reading from 2 Timothy 2 begins with v.19, which deals with this concept:
2 Tim 2:19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the
Lord is to abstain from wickedness."
“The Lord knows those who are His.” We often think of this phrase this way, “The Lord knows those whom he possesses.” In other words, most people see this phrase as a statement of ownership. God knows all those who He has claimed for Himself; the elect of
God. These are the people whom God has fore-known from time eternal.
John 10:14 "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,
But there is also another application to the phrase,
“The Lord knows those who are His.” This second use would focus on the possessed rather than the possessor. This would be stated as, “The Lord knows those whose hearts are devoted to His purposes, who are His by volition.” This second application draws attention to the responsibilities of the possessed; to the dedication and commitment of their lives and motivations.
Thus the final phrase in verse 19, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.” God does indeed know those who are His by possession. But He also knows those who are His by volition, by their commitment to righteous actions and attitudes. The Lord knows those who are sold out to the purposes and plans of godliness. These are the people who will allow Him to use them as He wishes.
Thus the final verse:
2 Tim 2:21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these {things,} he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
You would never think of using a wooden tool in a contaminating situation, if you wanted to use it later to prepare a meal. The porous nature of the wood would absorb the contaminant which would then seep into

the food. The same would be true for a clay or earthen vessel.
However, a gold or silver utensil, set apart for special use, could be used for household or mealtime purposes; because the nature of the metal allows it to remain unaffected by its surroundings. It can be cleaned and used as desired, regardless of its prior use. A gold or silver vessel is the most useful of tools
(as compared to wood or clay), for it is constantly at the ready of the owner, regardless of the need. It is
“prepared for every good work.”
But how do we become such useful vessels for the
Lord? That is answered in verse 19, “The Lord knows those who are His,” both by possession and by volition. If you are the Lords by purchase and by personal passion and obedience, then you are a vessel of honor.
More to the point is the issue of remaining a vessel of honor.
The beginning of verse 21 tells us how, “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these {things,} he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the
Master.”
“In the case of lifeless household utensils it is the rule: once a thing of gold or of silver always a thing of gold or of silver, and this is, of course, also true with regard to things of wood or of earthenware. But that is not the case with regard to the living persons here illustrated. They may change from gold and silver to wood and earthenware, from genuine to mere outward church members. … So here: if a person keeps himself effectively clean … he will be a utensil for honor.” - Lenski
In other words, every person saved by Christ is a vessel of honor as they walk obediently before Him.
But the only way to remain in that condition is by keeping yourself clean from those things that would contaminate, pollute or deteriorate your usefulness.
After all, even gold and silver become useless for special occasions if they are not cared for properly.
My grandfather (on my mom’s side) had a routine after he used each tool. It didn’t matter if it was a shovel, a saw, or a screwdriver. Before putting the tool away, he checked to make sure the surface was clean and ready for the next project. If the tool was dirty, he would do whatever was necessary to clean it.
And he was quite creative about how he would use his tools. But you would never have known what project he had used it on prior to that; it was always spotless and ready for use.
But there were two additional points that caught my attention as I was re-reading this passage. They are imbedded in the phrase, “useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”
The first is found in the thought, useful to the
Master . The objective of every vessel is to be useful.
How sad it would be to be a vessel that simply sits on a mantle, or in some cupboard. Can you imagine being a perfectly good tool that is left in a toolbox week after week just collecting dust? How equally sad it would be to be a believer who attends church week after week, but serves no apparent usefulness.
Along with the idea of usefulness is the issue of who defines each tool’s purpose. Is it the responsibility of the vessel to define its role or duty? How silly to think about a mechanic asking his tools how they wish to be used, or the tools instructing the Master on their preferred application. No, it is the mechanic who determines the application; and it is the carpenter who identifies how broadly he wants to utilize each tool.
The second half of this final phrase contains my concluding point, prepared for every good work . Just as it would indeed be a sad thing to be stranded in a toolbox without purpose, so also would it be heartbreaking to be needed by the Master, but not prepared to serve. How frustrating for a mechanic to grab a tool and find its mechanism frozen. How maddening to take a 12’ tape measure, only to find it jammed at 8’.
But this is precisely what happens day after day when Christians come to the toolbox (church), presenting themselves for service, but their everyday lives are spent defining their own boundaries for use.
Our goal each day should be spent preparing for every good work, regardless of what that work may entail. It shouldn’t matter whether we are a silver serving spoon or a shovel, a china platter or a garbage can lid.
If the Master calls us for service, we ought to be ready for whatever “good work” He calls us to, regardless of whether we think that work applies to us or not.
But this requires that we are both God’s by possession and His by volition. It also compels us to honestly evaluate our lives, seeking to abstain from wickedness
. Only then can we be “vessels for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” This should be the goal and desire of “everyone who names the name of the Lord.”