How many of us have heard or said, “I want to do big things for God” OR “I just want to be used”? From the heart of a person who loves the Lord and wants to make much of Him, this is a wonderful desire. An appropriate thing to consider is, what will make us most useful to the Lord? If we want to be vessels for kingdom work, to what should we devote ourselves?
Should we concentrate on being as busy about the Lord’s business as we can? Certainly, some would run in this direction and it does make logical sense. If we want to maximize our time on this earth for the Lord, perhaps the best way to do that is to cram as much service into every day as possible. While we obviously don’t want to go in the opposite direction of wasting our time on frivolous things, busyness does not necessary equate to effectiveness. It is possible to be quite busy and yet very ineffective in the work.
So perhaps we should we give ourselves to the honing of a particular skill or gift? This also might make a great deal of sense. If we want to be as effective as possible in the use of our time it would be wise to devote ourselves to one or two endeavors that we will be able to do well, rather than spreading ourselves across a dozen areas where we may be marginal. Additionally, it is just good stewardship to develop what God has graciously given us. However, even in this it is possible to be ineffective and even counterproductive in our work for the Lord. The most gifted and talented among us spending all of their time on the things of the Lord can actually deny Him in all of it if they are missing one critical thing.
Holiness.
Paul explains in 2 Timothy 2:20-22: 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. 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. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
We might have expected the apostle to write, “If anyone hones his skill in ____________, he will be a vessel for honorable use.” Or, “Get better at what you do and you’ll be more valuable to kingdom work.” Rather, Paul’s focus is not functional expertise, but personal Christlikeness: “if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable...” These verses come in a section of the letter in which Paul exhorts Timothy to be a good steward of his calling. Surely, ministerial skill is useful, but of paramount importance is godliness.
Our work is both proclaiming and living the gospel of the grace of God, which “has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14). When we proclaim this gospel, but have not practical holiness, we speak a gospel with words that we deny with our works (Titus 1:16). The opposite is also true. When we live a life of holiness, the gospel we speak with our mouths cannot be denied.
This is exactly why Robert Murray McCheyne wrote the following words to Dan Edwards upon his ordination as a missionary to the Jews:
“I trust you will have a pleasant and profitable time in Germany. I know you will apply hard to German; but do not forget the culture of the inner man,—I mean of the heart. How diligently the cavalry officer keeps his sabre clean and sharp; every stain he rubs off with the greatest care. Remember you are God’s sword,—His instrument,—I trust a chosen vessel unto Him to bear His name. In great measure, according to the purity and perfections of the instrument, will be the success. It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God.”*
Paul is kind to give instruction regarding how to progress in holiness. For many, his words are nothing new, but reminders are always good…
Flee youthful passions…
Put off those worldly, fleshly desires that wage war against your soul (1 Peter 2:11). What are those desires that lead you toward self and sin even as you engage in ministry? Flee from them. Cut off access to whatever feeds those desires. Make no provision for the flesh in regard to its desires (Rom 13:14).
Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace…
This is simply to say, pursue Christlikeness. Read the Scriptures, focusing on the character of God in Christ. Search the Gospel accounts of Christ’s demonstrated righteousness, faith, love, and peace. Read the epistles’ exposition of Christ’s person and work. Make them your meditation and prayer, morning and evening. Whatever time and resources you were devoting to your sinful passions, dedicate them to learning Christ.
…along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
Notice the specificity here. Pursue Christlikeness specifically with those calling on the Lord from a pure heart. “Pure” is the adjective form of the verb “cleanse” one verse earlier. In other words, find fellowship with people who have done what v21 calls for…who have cleansed themselves from what is dishonorable. Want to grow in godliness? Hang out with those godlier than you. Do your heart cleansing in the company of those with clean hearts.
Making ourselves busy about the Lord’s business and honing the skills He has entrusted to us are worthwhile uses of our time and attention. In the long run, they will only be as useful as we are holy. While we give ourselves to these things, may our love for Jesus find expression first and foremost in the pursuit of His likeness, knowing that holiness will make our time and gifts far more effective tools in His hands.
__________
* John R. W. Stott, The Preacher’s Portrait, Some New Testament Word Studies (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publ. Co., 1961), p. 120
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