Fine China…

In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:20-21

When my family came to America over 37 years ago, like many immigrants, we brought some of our valuables. My mother made sure to bring those items that were special to her. Some had been passed down through generations and one item in particular was a set of China that we still have today.

Our family did not have much but we were grateful for what we did have and enjoyed it. On special occasions we looked forward to having home cooked meals served on this China. It meant that the day was special and it was a subtle reminder that life was slowing down to enjoy a day filled with family, food and friends.

This is similar to what Paul is presenting to us today. He is reminding us that if we remain pure, which in effect means a life committed to Christ and demonstrated by the way we live and talk and carry ourselves then we place ourselves in a position like the fine China; clean and ready for use whenever the Lord has a special work for us.

Sometimes I feel more like Chinet than China but I know that is the case only when I take my eyes off of Him and start handling matters my own way, which usually leads to making things messy.

Unlike the use of fine China, however, the Lord has a work for us to do rather frequently and not just on a special occasion or time of year. But it is a special work, nevertheless. The calling on our life is specially crafted and selected by the Lord.

God does not want us to settle but rather to be our best so we may be used for His best.