"THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"

Useful For The Master (2:20-26)

INTRODUCTION
  1. To motivate Timothy toward faithful service, Paul used an illustration involving 'vessels'...
    1. Of varying qualities and value - 2Ti 2:20
    2. How one could be a vessel for honor, prepared for every good work - 2Ti 2:21
    -- Thus becoming "Useful For The Master"
  2. By considering the context (2Ti 2:20-26), we too can learn how to be...
    1. Vessels of gold or silver, not wood or clay
    2. Vessels for honor, not dishonor
    -- And thereby also becoming "Useful For The Master"

[It involves effort, but such is necessary if we are going to be prepared for every good work. First of all, to be useful for the Master...]

  1. WE MUST WORK ON OUR PERSONAL CONDUCT
    1. THINGS TO AVOID...
      1. Must cleanse oneself from "the latter" - 2Ti 2:21
        1. I.e., vessels of dishonor - 2Ti 2:20
        2. E.g., teachers of false doctrine like Hymenaeus and Philetus- cf. 2Ti 2:16-18
      2. Must flee youthful lusts - 2Ti 2:22
        1. The lust of the flesh, such as fornication - 1Co 6:18
        2. The lust of the eyes, such as materialism - cf. 1Ti 6:9-11
        -- We must avoid both wicked associations and wicked conduct
    2. THINGS TO DO...
      1. Must pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace - 2Ti 2:22
        1. Qualities without which no one will see the Lord - He 12:14
        2. Qualities well suited for the "man of God" - cf. 1Ti 6:11
      2. With those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart - 2Ti 2:22
        1. Together with those who sincerely love God
        2. I.e., not alone, nor in the company of those 'vessels of dishonor'
        -- We must seek both holy conduct and holy associations

      [Avoiding wicked associations does not mean we do not reach out to those in error. For the Lord desires all to be saved (cf. 1Ti 2:4; 2 Pe 3:9). To be "Useful For The Master" in teaching them...]

  2. WE MUST WORK ON INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS
    1. THINGS TO AVOID...
      1. Must avoid foolish and ignorant disputes - 2Ti 2:23
        1. That generate strife - 2Ti 2:23; cf. 1Ti 1:4; 6:4
        2. That bring ruin to the hearers - 2Ti 2:14; cf. Tit 3:9
        3. That increase to more ungodliness - 2Ti 2:16
      2. Must not quarrel - 2Ti 2:24
        1. That is, strive or fight over words - cf. 2Ti 2:23
        2. "engage in a war of words, to quarrel, wrangle, dispute" - Thayer
        -- We must avoid discussions that are little more than 'word battles'
    2. THINGS TO DO...
      1. Must be gentle to all - 2Ti 2:24
        1. "affable, that is, mild or kind" - Strong
        2. "not only to troubled minds, and wounded consciences, by supplying them with the precious promises and truths of the Gospel; and to backsliders, by restoring them in a spirit of meekness; but even to those who contradict the truth, and themselves, by mild and kind instructions." - Gill
      2. Must be able to teach - 2Ti 2:24
        1. "apt and skillful in teaching" - Thayer
        2. Thus able to both exhort and convict those who contradict - cf. Tit 1:9
      3. Must be patient - 2Ti 2:24
        1. "patient of ills and wrongs, forbearing" - Thayer
        2. "The Greek word here used does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. It means, patient under evils and injuries" - Barnes
        3. A Christ-like quality much needed in 'word battles' - cf. Co 3:13
      4. Must correct in humility - 2Ti 2:25
        1. That is, with "gentleness, mildness, meekness" - Thayer
        2. Even against those who:
          1. Who oppose the truth
          2. Who are ensnared by the devil
        3. For such qualities are weapons "mighty in God" - cf. 2 Co 10:1-5
          1. Not carnal, such as wrath, anger, and strife
          2. But mighty for casting down arguments, bringing thoughts into captivity to Christ
          -- We must develop and demonstrate a Christ-like character toward the opposition
CONCLUSION
  1. A servant of the Lord must therefore give careful attention...
    1. To his personal conduct and associations
    2. To his interpersonal relations with those in error
  2. A servant of the Lord who does so can then be...
    1. A vessel of honor
    2. Sanctified (set apart for a godly purpose)
    3. Useful to the Master!

What kind of 'vessels' are we becoming for the Lord...?