Vessel or Figurine
Notes
Transcript
20 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.
21 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.
What is the difference between a vessel and a figurine? A vessel is something that is to be used, filled, emptied, refilled, it is something that has a practical purpose. Now, in contrast is a figurine or an ornament. A figurine or an ornament is something that simply rests where it is placed and does no more. Now, can a vessel be a figurine or an ornament?
When we were married, we were gifted with cut crystal pitchers. Vessels. Over the years, we have received other pitchers that were heirlooms, antiques, or crystal. So, where do you think those reside? Do you think they get used? Of course not, they are vessels that are meant to be seen…not used. Now comes the big question. Are they being used for their intended use, and are they functioning as the creator intended? If they are not functioning, are they useful? Then why do we keep them?
They may look pretty, they may fill a space, they may have an intended purpose, but if they are not being used…do they serve a practical purpose?
Thinking back to the creators intention, the intention was to create a functional, practical implement. Now, one of the things Allison and I like to do while in Gatlinburg is go to Alewine Pottery. Think about how something as small as a clay coffee cup. The clay must first be selected based on what kind of vessel is to be created. The clay in itself is noting spectacular. It’s brown, reddish, or gray, smooth, can be slick and will dissolve in water. The potter uses this to his or her advantage. He uses water to start molding and forming the clay into the shape of the intended vessel. Once the vessel is formed, handles or decorations can be added and it is allowed to dry until completely air dry. Then the vessel is placed into a kiln and fired for the first time. Glaze can be applied after the first firing for added colors and patterns, and heat is applied again and at this time it can be extreme heat. During this firing process, the properties of the clay are changed. It increases in strength and durability, it becomes waterproof, colors are made, and the vessel is complete. A potter calls fired clay “mature”.
Many things can happen, though, through each of these steps. Moisture can cause the pottery to explode. Impurities can cause weaknesses. Improper heating or cooling can cause the vessel to break or crack. It is a process in which each vessel must be inspected, and a master potter with the knowledge and skill to identify potential problems so the clay can be reworked, impurities removed, and useful vessels created.
Now, it’s up to the owner of the vessels to decide how they will be used. Will they see every day use? Will they be filled, emptied, and refilled? What will they be used for? For good, or for bad? Ever seen an old western where a bottle is used to crack someone over the head? Ever used a bowl for scraps? Every heard of a slop pot?
Paul here is describing how vessels can be used for good or bad “honor or dishonor” and this was the image he was using here. The vessels described within a great house - a affluent, well to do house, had utensils for honor. Vessels made of precious metals, silver and gold, to be used to serve food to family and guests. And the clay and wooden vessels used for every day uses not to be seen or talked about. He goes on to use this as a reminder that anyone who wants to be useful to the Lord has to be honorable. We have to cleanse ourselves - this picture is a description of thoroughly cleaning something out. For any waste bucket to be used, it would have to be scrubbed and sanitized of its former filth.
Now when we put this into context into our lives, are we not a vessel created by the Master Potter? In Genesis 2:7 we read that God, the Master Potter reaches down into the dust of the ground and formed man into the vessel He desired him to be - a living creature.
7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
One commentary I read stated “Many of the words used in this account of the creation of man picture a master craftsman at work shaping a work of art to which he gives life.”
Isaiah acknowledges that God is our creator, who molds us into the image desired. We are the work of His hands.
8 But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.
By being created, formed by the hands of God then does He not have a plan for us? What is it God wants us to be filled with? I would argue He wants us to be filled the Word of God.
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
If we are filled with the Word, we then meditate what is in the Word, and we do what is written in the Word. But, how is it we can be filled with the Word? We first must empty ourselves of self. We even see an example of this in Christ.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Christ shows us how, even though He was God, but humbly, selflessly, emptied Himself of the incarnate so that He could become like one of us (carnal). So, should we not humbly empty ourselves of the carnal to become more like Him?
But what happens when we fail to be the vessel God intended us to be? We become a figurine. Looks good, but really serves no practical purpose. We become an I-D-L-E vessel. It does not do what it was created or intended to do.
Idleness also does not bring progress or change, but instead leads to destruction.
18 Laziness leads to a sagging roof; idleness leads to a leaky house.
We must remember that God created us for a purpose, and with a purpose in mind. We are not to be idle, like a figurine, just sitting and waiting. Honestly, being idle leads us to believe there is nothing to do. But we know that is not the case as long as there are lost people living in this world. We are given a command to go and tell others of Jesus. If not, are we being the vessel God wants us to be? Remember the parable of the talents? One servant given 5, one given 2 and the last given 1 talent (coins). The purpose was to use those talents and create new/more. But what about the one who was lazy, slothful, acted like a figurine?
24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,
25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’
26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?
27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Many have been figurines for way too long. We need to invest what God has given us, we need to be filled and become purposeful, practical, useful!
For too long, many of us have just been figurines. Coming into church, looking good, many maybe even doing the “church” things, but really never accomplishing what God wants for our lives. You see, we never have fully emptied ourselves of US so that He can fill us. And we must realize this is not a one-time event. Water that sits in a vessel for too long will grow stagnant. It must be poured out and refilled. You see, the water is useless if it is not used as intended. The vessel is useless if it is not used as intended. The figurine is useless, even if used as intended. We should be looking for opportunities to be filled. Opportunities to empty what we have been given so we can be filled again. This requires being around people who are not idle, but are active! Paul gives a warning for us to stay away from idle people, knowing that we are called to action not slumber.
6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
So today, we have a choice to be made. We can either be idle like figurines, or we can be vessels used by God.
Closing
Life will apply the heat needed to transform us into a raw piece of clay and turn us into a useful vessel. But now, it is up to us to decide how we, the vessel, will be used.
Know what happens to most figurines in our house? They get knocked over and broken.