Want to be picked for an adventurous task?

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also utensils of wood and earthenware, and some for honorable and noble use and some for menial and ignoble use. 2 Tim 2:20 Amplified

http://goremasternews.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/

Any good captain aboard a ship knew most of his crew pretty well. He knew the men who worked hard, who studied and learned well, who didn't shirk their duties. He knew the men who didn't overindulge in drink, who didn't quarrel with others, who didn't gamble away their earnings. He knew the ones who were honest and had integrity. He knew the men he could count on.  So, when he needed to assign someone to a certain task or duty, he knew who he would pick. Especially for the really important tasks (and exciting ones) such plotting the best course to their destination, being in charge of a boarding party or gun crew, evading the enemy in a chase at sea, or going ashore and scouting out enemy territory! 


The other men on board, the ones who didn't measure up, well they never got chosen. The captain still valued them and took care of them, but they didn't get to go on any exciting adventures.


God is much like this good captain. When something happens on earth and He needs to send one of his crew to take care of things, I picture Him scanning the earth, seeking someone fit for the task. The job could be healing someone, delivering food to the poor, taking a stand against the enemy, giving a word of encouragement to someone in need, rescuing someone from Satan's grip..etc.. any number of things.  

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are blameless toward Him.  2 Chronicles 16:9 Amplified



Trouble is, I wonder how often God's glance passes over me and moves to someone else more fit for the task? How many times has God longed to send me on a grand adventure, but He knew I wasn't ready, wasn't fit? He knew I couldn't handle it.  That really makes me sad. For me and for Him!  

http://alturl.com/fxcwx

In the Scripture above, Paul says that we are either vessels of gold and silver or utensils of wood and earth. The gold and silver vessels are used for honorable work and the others, menial tasks.  I don't know about you, but I don't want to be used for menial tasks! Sounds dreadfully boring.

http://alturl.com/af73g

So how do we become vessels of gold and silver??  Much like on board a ship, you have to obey the rules, study, work hard, be a person of honor and integrity.  Paul expounds on the qualities necessary in the same chapter of 2 Timothy. 

Take  your share of the hardships and suffering which you are called to endure as a good (first-class) soldier of Christ Jesus.  No soldier when in service gets entangled in the enterprises of civilian life; his aim is to satisfy and please the one who enlisted him.  2 Timothy 2: 3-4 Amplified

So,

• Endure hardships and suffering like a good soldier
• Don't get entangled in things of this world
• Make it your aim to satisfy and please God

Further down in the chapter in verses 22-24, there are other instructions for becoming an honorable vessel. I summarize them here

• Shun youthful lusts and flee from them, and aim at and pursue righteousness 
• Pursue faith, love, and harmony with others
• Shut your mind against ill-informed, unedifying, and stupid controversies over ignorant questionings, for you know that they foster strife and breed quarrels.
• Do not be quarrelsome. 
• Be kind to everyone 
• Be a skilled and suitable teacher, patient and forbearing and willing to suffer wrong.

 So whoever cleanses himself from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences will then himself be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work.  2 Tim 2:21 Amplified

Life been a little boring lately?  Don't feel connected to God? Don't feel useful?   Perhaps you need to ask God to help you do the things above so that together you can transform that clay into gold and silver. Then He just might choose you for His next great assignment! 

I don't know about you, but I don't want to sit on the shelf. I want the abundant life He died and rose again to give me. How about you?