VASE vs. pitcher

I have a question for you…Are you a VASE or a pitcher?  You’re probably wondering how to answer that question.  Well, if you follow along with me, you will be able to personally answer it.  But first, we must define them and state what their purpose is.  As we go on this journey, hopefully you’ll see which one you are and what you need to do to become all of what God desires for you to be.

What is a VASE?  A VASE is a vessel or open container usually made of glass, porcelain, earthenware, or metal that is primarily used as decoration.   VASEs tend to be placed on mantles, dining room tables and in curio cabinets.  Some VASEs are very ornate and highly valued to the point they are placed in museums behind velvet ropes to be viewed.  Still others are very old and have a very storied history because of who may have previously owned them.

When you have a VASE, you will probably need to dust the outside off to keep it in pristine condition.  If the VASE is made out of metal, you will have to polish it to keep it shiny and appealing to the eye.  VASEs tend to be viewed, not used.  Sometimes they’re used to hold fresh cut flowers that die in a few days. 

Are you a VASE?  2 Timothy 3:5, 7, says, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:  from such turn away.  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  In other words, they pretend to be devoted to God by being religious, but it is not real because they have turned their backs on God’s power.  They are unable to move from head knowledge to heart knowledge. 

These are people who know how to dress right, say all of the popular clichés, and have all of the “proper” mannerism (you know:  crossing your arms with one finger over your mouth).  People are usually impressed with all of the shenanigans that go on like whooping, choirs sashaying, having the lights out during worship service with smoke billowing and pastors rising up from the stage.  You get my drift?!  Why are we impressed with this nonsense?  Did Jesus have to do that?  Did the Apostles have to do that?  The Bible says to stay away from these people. 

We should not desire to be VASEs that are used as display pieces.  VASEs that are not accessible; too pretty to be touched.  And still others, are carrying around dead flowers.  Still holding on to that last great sermon they heard and refusing to learn anything else about the God they claim they serve.  Then they wonder why their life is in chaos resembling dead, smelly flowers.  Is this you?  Are you learning more about Jesus?  Are you participating in Bible studies, small group studies?  Or are you sitting on the mantle of life?  Are you holding dead flowers?  Are you collecting dust?  Maybe you are in a museum being viewed for the price of admission.

If this is you, you must allow the “Potter” to take that shine off and break you then put you back together again so that you can be useful and fulfill your God-given purpose. 

Now, let’s talk about what a pitcher is and does?  A pitcher is a container with a spout used for storing and pouring contents which are liquid in form. Generally a pitcher also has a handle, which makes pouring easier.  Most of us used a pitcher growing up.  You know the one we used to make Kool-aid.  That pitcher was being filled up and poured out constantly.

Pitchers tend not to be very ornate.  They are not something you would want to display.  They tend to be inexpensive and nothing really special about them except they are something that is used every day.  They are filled with water or some other favorite beverage like iced tea or Kool-aid.  And one thing you were never suppose to do is leave a drop of Kool-aid in the fridge without making a new batch.

Are you a pitcher?  Are you being poured out daily and refilled?  The Bible tells us in Philippians 2:17a, “But my life might even be poured out like a drink offering…”  We are to allow ourselves to be used by serving God and His people with the gifts and talents He has given us.  Then we are to be filled up again with the “Living Water” which is the Holy Spirit to stay useful.

Something else that a pitcher has that VASEs usually do not is a handle.  This handle makes pouring easier.  You may be wondering what the handle is and who is using it?  The dictionary defines a handle this way:  a part of a thing made specifically to be grasped or held by the hand; that which may be held, seized, grasped, or taken advantage of in effecting purpose.  Did you get that?  I believe the handle is like our heart which allows the hand of God to grab hold of, to seize or to take advantage of for His purposes.  The handle enables God to pour or empty out His Spirit to be a blessing to others.

Unlike a VASE, we have to make sure the outside and the inside of the pitcher is cleaned often to continue its usefulness.  If you don’t the residue will accumulate and it will be difficult to use because of the filth left behind.  Sometimes you might have to really get into the crevices to make sure it is clean or let it soak to loosen the junk on the inside.

The Bible says in Matthew 23:25-28, “It will be bad for you teachers of the law and you Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You wash clean the outside of your cups and dishes. But inside they are full of what you got by cheating others and pleasing yourselves.  Pharisees, you are blind! First make the inside of the cup clean and good. Then the outside of the cup will also be clean.   “It will be bad for you teachers of the law and you Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You are like tombs that are painted white. Outside they look fine, but inside they are full of dead people’s bones and all kinds of filth.  It is the same with you. People look at you and think you are godly. But on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and evil.” 

We must allow the Living Water to wash us clean on the inside as well as the outside to remain useful to God.  You know, those deep, dark places of hidden sins that no one else knows about except you and of course God.  (Read Psalm 51)  If we don’t allow God to search and cleanse those deep, dark crevices then we will have “a form of godliness but denying its power.”    (2 Timothy 3:5)  In other words, we will be hypocrites.  Woe!!!

Now, there are some pitchers who are very valuable and our placed in museums.  They have outgrown their usefulness and are now on display.  These are the Christians that feel they don’t need to learn anything else.  I’m saved and I already graduated from school.  Don’t need no more!!!  The Word of God says in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  We are to keep learning and growing in the Word of God to remain useful pitchers.  No matter how old we are or how long we’ve been saved, we are never to sit on the sidelines and become “Sunday Christians.”

You may have even seen some handle-free pitchers.  They tend not to get great reviews because the pitcher slips out of your hands making a big mess.  Sometimes that’s how we are with God, we slip out of His hands and make a big mess of our lives.  And then we expect Him to clean it up.  No matter how many times, God tries to hold us, we slip away or back slide into sin.  Paul talks about this struggle in Romans 7:15-24, “ I don’t understand why I act the way I do. I don’t do the good I want to do, and I do the evil I hate.  And if I don’t want to do what I do, that means I agree that the law is good.  But I am not really the one doing the evil. It is sin living in me that does it.  Yes, I know that nothing good lives in me—I mean nothing good lives in the part of me that is not spiritual. I want to do what is good, but I don’t do it.  I don’t do the good that I want to do. I do the evil that I don’t want to do.  So if I do what I don’t want to do, then I am not really the one doing it. It is the sin living in me that does it.  So I have learned this rule: When I want to do good, evil is there with me.  In my mind I am happy with God’s law.  But I see another law working in my body. That law makes war against the law that my mind accepts. That other law working in my body is the law of sin, and that law makes me its prisoner.  What a miserable person I am! Who will save me from this body that brings me death?”

The answer to this dilemma can be found in verse 25a, “ I thank God for his salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord!” 

So, I go back to my original question, Are you a VASE or a pitcher?