Remember how growing up there was that special bowl that was only used for Daddy, or special plates and cutlery that were used to serve special visitors at home? In a typical Ghanaian home, while everyone else ate their weekend ‘fufu’ or ‘omotuo’ in a regular plastic bowl, Daddy or any special visitor got served in that Pyrex bowl reserved only for the head of the household or for special occasions. I’m essence, the vessel that your meal is served in is a reflection of your value to the household. The Bible makes us understand that as servants of God, as children of God, our ‘yieldedness’ determines the kind of vessel we are defined as in the house our our Lord.
“In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.” 2 Timothy 2:20-21 MSG
Some might argue that being a waste can or compost bucket doesn’t render one useless. That’s true. But cast your mind to the typical characteristics of such. They are often broken or worn out containers that are being used till they can no longer serve any purpose. It is just a matter of time before they are replaced or discarded and ultimately rendered useless.
As Christians, one way we can be rendered useless in God’s vineyard is when do not do first things first. When we no longer prioritize what God has called us to do, we don’t commune with God through prayer and His word, we don’t fellowship with the brethren, we don’t obey his commands and we don’t heed to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Rather we are swayed by the happenings of the world, we toil hard and long for Pharaoh (putting work and social events before serving God). We find ourselves in the last days and there is so much going on around us that could easily dissuade us from God’s original plan for our lives. The cares of this world are many, the distractions are many but it is necessary that we strive to look beyond those and yearn to please our Heavenly Father.
“Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.” 1 Peter 5:10 MSG
It can be so hard to keep the faith when everything seems to be crumbling down roundabout you. It’s hard to keep praying when your prayers don’t seem to get any answers. It’s hard to keep giving when you’re not reaping any harvest. It’s hard to keep serving when your labour in the Lord seems in vain. But don’t forget that faith is the substance of thing hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. When that marriage is not happening, when you’re not getting the job you’ve have prayed for, when the baby(ies) you’ve fasted for are not coming even after trying all the medical interventions, don’t lose hope. God is preparing you as a vessel to testify greatly for His glory.
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this. Proverbs 3:5-7 MSG
And while you wait, while you hope, while you yield to His discipline and delight in His will you need to work on yourself. You need to keep sharpening your axe. You need to ensure your wine skin is intact, your faith unwavering. That your vessel is ready and able to contain all that He is preparing behind the scenes for your advancement.
““No one sews a patch of unshrunk (new) cloth on an old garment; otherwise the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and the tear becomes worse. No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the [fermenting] wine will [expand and] burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the wineskins. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”” Mark 2:21-22 AMP
The period of waiting is not the time for trial and error. It is not the period when you float through existence, expecting something magical to happen. Of course waiting is tough and is rarely ever a pleasurable experience but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like the eagle. But while you wait, build up your most holy faith, consciously renew your mind, consecrate yourself to God and focus on things above.
“Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].” Romans 12:1-2 AMP
Being a vessel that God can use is not about how old you are, how long you have been born again or how piously you carry yourself. It is about your yieldedness and availability to His will and in His vineyard. Each one of us has something to offer, you choose to render yourself useless. We each need to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, not depending only on corporate fellowship for our spiritual growth but being intentional about spending quality time in the presence of our Heavenly Father. Only then will we understand His true heart for us and how we ought to bring Him pleasure. May our very lives be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto him; a vessel that He can use, Amen.
With Love, Esinam.
Virtuous Living 