In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.  2 Timothy 2:20 – 21

In this text, Paul does not make his point obvious.  He is probably encouraging Timothy to be aware of the way God works.  He notes that in a great house there are many common things, uncountable in number, and unnoticed.  But God uses some common people to do some very special things, according to his purposes. A wooden coat hanger, for example, is privileged to hold the vestments of a king. I think I am seeing this argument correctly.

First, if this is the case, we should never despise the importance of common people in the growth of the Kingdom of God.  Each serves a purpose, often hidden or just expected to be there doing their common tasks.

Secondly, when God needs someone to do a special task he enables common people to do extraordinary things.

Thirdly, as common people cleanse themselves of all self-importance, they become eligible for the great things that moves the family of God forward.

Fourth, the vessels themselves do not seek to do special things, but they realize that God uses such common people to surprise themselves and others as they are called to do special things in the Kingdom.  Useful to the Master

What is Paul touching on?  I am not sure but a theme of the letter to Timothy is to step up and do some very special things in the vibrant, growing church in Ephesus. It means loving all in the flock.  It also means confronting those in the flock who are teaching heresy.  In light of that task, poor Timothy must have felt himself absolutely inadequate.  For that reason, he can take comfort that it is God who has called him to this special ministry, a ministry that will set the tone for all intercultural churches for all time.  If there ever was a high calling, and a difficult one, this is it.  Common Timothy becomes a defender of the faith!

Paul adds, it is God who sets apart for special tasks, tasks that are useful to the Master.