“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
We were all created on purpose for a purpose. Unfortunately most of us will go through life never discovering what that purpose is. We were not designed to figure life out, our Creator already determined each of our destinies. Observant parents will recognize what I like to refer to as “godly bents” earlier on in their children- The things that their children are drawn to or have an affinity for. Most parents, wanting what they think is best for them, will try to manipulate their God given bent, which ultimately leads to years of frustration in most young adults. Not every child is born for a four year college degree. And not every bent requires one. Knowing the difference will prevent a lot of heartache for both parents and children.
There was a time when being a refuse collector was looked down upon, until your garbage was uncollected due to a strike. There was a time when working the sewage department was frowned upon until you had a sewer backup. But having worked for a municipality for years as a Payroll Administrator, and seeing what those people earned, college grads didn’t come close. Parents may say “I don’t want my child doing that!” Well, someone has to. And God already knew who would, because they are essential to every country and community. The Bible says in Colossians 3:17: “Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Colossians 3:17 AMP
There are so many people with college degrees, strangled by debt who are not doing what they went to college for, but are fully contented and thriving, having discovered their bent. It is said that if you’re doing what you love “God’s bent” you’ll never work a day in your life. Are you experiencing that? Or are you just making a living? Knowing what you were created to do makes a world of difference. How you greet Monday morning or whichever morning or evening starts your work week is quite telling. If you’re living your bent it will be sunshine all week long even if it’s raining. As a child I was always leading and teaching someone or something. I would have school with the trees in the backyard lol, on Sunday evenings as a four year old, I would gather my parents and siblings to have a concert, everyone had to part to play as I led. But no one saw or encouraged my bent. I enjoyed books, I was an avid reader and still am. As an employee, my coworkers sought me out for advice and prayer. I was always teaching without knowing I was teaching. If most of you would think back, you too would realize that you were operating in the bent God had given you yet not realizing that’s what you were meant to be doing. So you filled in gaps, made it a career, but you were never fulfilled. Some have even discovered it after retirement. You made a good living but it was “WORK.”
I have observed my younger brother and my older sister, as we were growing up and saw what they were attracted to. They didn’t choose the path they’re now on, it chose them. I can say without hesitation they’re both serving in their bent. I’ve raised my daughter all the while doing what I’m sharing, being sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and watched my daughter transition into hers. Don’t plan for your children, just observe and follow God’s plan and support them even if you disagree with their decision, especially if it doesn’t line up with yours. Stop trying to live vicariously through your children. I Have no idea why He’s taken me this way, but there must be some young parents in my audience. Your children are wired to succeed at whatever the Creator in His wisdom has blessed them to become. If we try to remake or reshape what has already been set, we create an imitation of the Designer’s original. Follow the bent.
Now to the text😊as believers in Jesus Christ we need to recognize our purpose as new creations. 2 Corinthians 5:17. We are to strive, as Paul instructed his spiritual son Timothy, to be vessels of honor. We need to live in such a way that our lives will be a blessing to everyone no matter their status in life. We should be as comfortable around kings as we are around a beggar on the street. We should be able to show the same level of love, care and affection towards them no matter who they are. Jesus was willing to condescend to us. He, though a vessel of honor, washed His disciples feet. Paul said he became all things to all people for the sole purpose of winning souls to Jesus Christ. We never want to become ineffective. We were all created to bring honor to the One who poured Himself into us, so we could be poured out for Him.
Knowing your bent sets you up to be a vessel of honor. A blessing on your way to being poured into guests of Jesus. We never know where our assignments will take us, but we know we’re on assignment. Live ready, walk out and in your bent, you’re necessary to someone else’s discovery of our Messiah Jesus. Remember these words:
“For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].” Ephesians 2:10 Amp
“For soil that drinks the rain which often falls on it and produces crops useful to those for whose benefit it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God; but if it persistently produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.”
Hebrews 6:7-8 AMP
Heavenly Father ,
We don’t want to waste the good life you have planned for us in Jesus through ignorance of who we really are. Your Word is filled with detours meant to bring us back into alignment with your bent for us. You formed us already knowing who we were meant to be. Thank you for allowing us to discover Your Will, even if it’s later than You had planned. Restore the years as only You can. In Jesus Name. Amen
Like the maple tree waiting to be tapped so that sweet syrup can be released, so are we as vessels of honor waiting to be poured out in our sphere of influence. Get ready! WT
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
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