Articles of Gold and Silver

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. (II Timothy 2:20-21) 

Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? (Romans 9:21-24) 

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. (I Corinthians 12:21-25) 

            A couple days ago, I wrote about context. As I look at these verses, the context becomes vital. What is this large house that Paul describes? Among the answers that come to mind: a real large house, the local church, the Church, the world and Heaven. While the analogy has some merit in each of these possibilities, Paul’s letter is to a young pastor about his local church, so it seems clear that this is the context in which we must understand this passage. The other passages I’ve provided discuss some of the same ideas, but they aren’t all set in the same context. The passage from I Corinthians seems to be, but the passage from Romans deals with a broader group. While similar terms are used, they aren’t teaching the same thing. 

            The passages in II Timothy and I Corinthians, then, seem to tell us several things about the Church and its constituent parts (people.) First, that not everyone in a local church is at the same level of usefulness. Second, they teach us that those who are at lower levels, by cleansing themselves, can reach higher levels of usefulness and honor. Third, they teach us that those who are of apparently lower levels of usefulness and honor should be treated just as well as those of apparently higher levels of usefulness. We need each other. 

            Pick your own favorite outcast – those who only attend on holidays, pew warmers who do nothing but sit and listen, social attenders, the poor, women, singles, widows & orphans, ex-cons, kids, Introverts... consider how you might honor them and show “equal concern” for them. I’ve written before of my concern for widows. I’m also concerned about singles. As an Introvert, I have a vested interest. I need to do some praying.