Useful to the Master
“Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and ‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness.’ Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work” (II Timothy 2:19-21)
When I was a child, I will never forget the first time that I was invited into a job that my father was doing and allowed to help. The thrill was overwhelming. I was contributing, I was of use to my Father for that job on that day. I remember how my heart swelled as I announced to my Mother, “I helped!” There have been times that I have walked into the kitchen at my house and standing on chairs up against the counter were flour-covered grandchildren announcing with glee in their faces and voices, “We’re helping Grandma make cookies!”
As wonderful and marvelous as it is for a child to be invited into the projects of an adult, I have found something even more astounding, that the Creator of the cosmos has invited you and me into His labors, seeing us as, “Useful to the Master!”
God created you with purpose and intent. He created you to play an intricate part in what the German theologians call “Heilsgeschichte” His salvation story. Think about it, there is a part that has been written into the script of history that you and you alone can fulfill. No one else can play the part that was written for you. God created you and has gifted you to be “useful” to Him and His redemptive plan. There is one thing that is necessary, to be used of God, you must be useable.
The fact of the matter is, there are many Christians who are not useable. They have defined the perimeters in which God can use them or the people they will do it with, “Oh, I’m willing to do this, but don’t ask me to do that.” All too many Christians never realize the part in God’s script that was written for them because they call the shots in their life, not Him. “Dear Lord, I would love to be used by You, here are the days and hours that I am available, and please, don’t ask me to work with her. If you can work Your call into my schedule and my conditions, I’m Yours.”
Many think, “If I were just in another location, there I could be used of God.” Want to know a little secret? God cannot use you where you are not. But He can use you where you are, and He wants to begin using you today. You are a valuable asset to God and to the work of His kingdom. God has not saved you to be an ornament in His church, He has saved you that you might be “useful to the Master.” To be useful to the Master will mean that He has permission to interrupt your agenda with His at any time. He will upset your apple cart of your carefully ordered life, but in the process, He’ll fill your life with joy and sense of purpose and you will find yourself squealing like my flour-covered grandchildren, “God let me help!”
合乎主用
然而，神堅固的根基立住了，上面有這印記說：「主認識誰是他的人」，又說：「凡稱呼主名的人總要離開不義。」在大戶人家，不但有金器銀器，也有木器瓦器，有作為貴重的，有作為卑賤的。人若自潔，脫離卑賤的事，就必做貴重的器皿，成為聖潔，合乎主用，預備行各樣的善事。(提摩太後書 2:19-21)
當我還是個孩子的時候，我永遠不會忘記父親第一次邀請我參與他的工作，並允許我幫忙的情景。那種興奮之情難以言喻。我對父親在那一天的那項工作有所貢獻，我對父親是有幫助的。我記得當我告訴母親：「我有幫忙！」時，內心充滿了自豪。也曾有些時候，當我走進家裡的廚房，看見孫子孫女們站在料理台前的椅子上、滿身麵粉，臉上和聲音中都透著喜悅地說：「我們在幫外婆做曲奇餅呢！」
正如小孩子被邀請參與大人的工作是一件何等美好又奇妙的事，我卻發現一件更令人驚嘆的事：宇宙的創造主竟然邀請你和我一同參與祂的工作，並看我們為「合乎主用」的人！
神帶著目的與心意創造了你。祂創造你，是要你在祂的救贖歷史（德國神學家稱之為「Heilsgeschichte」）中扮演一個細緻而重要的角色。試想，在歷史的劇本中，有一段情節是唯獨你才能完成。沒有人能夠取代這個為你而寫的角色。神創造了並賦予你恩賜，使你對祂以及祂的救贖計畫「有用」。但有一件事是必要的：若要被神使用，你必須先成為一個合用的人。
事實上，有許多基督徒其實是「不合乎主用」的。他們為神能如何使用他們、或與哪些人一起服事，設下了界線：「噢，我願意做這件事，但不要叫我做那件事。」太多基督徒從未真正活出神在劇本中為他們編寫的角色，因為掌控人生的是他們自己，而不是神。「親愛的主，我很樂意被祢使用，這是我方便的時間和日期；還有，請不要讓我和她一起服事。如果祢能將祢的呼召安插在我的時間表和條件之內，我就聽候差遣。」
很多人會想：「如果我在另一個地方，我就可以在那裡被神使用了。」想知道一個小秘密嗎？神無法在你不在的地方使用你，但祂能在此時此地使用你，而且祂想從今天就開始使用你。對神和祂國度的工作而言，你是一份寶貴的資產。神拯救你，不是要你成為教會裡的裝飾品，而是要你成為「合乎主用」的人。而「合乎主用」意味著祂隨時有權介入並調整你的計劃。祂會打亂你井然有序的生活，但在這過程中，祂會讓你的生命充滿喜樂與使命感。那時，你也會像我那些滿身麵粉的孫兒們一樣歡呼：「神讓我幫忙了！」