Are You a Worker Approved by God?

By Bishop Dr. Clarence McClain

Every believer must ask, “Am I a worker approved by God?” The Christian life is not about busyness in ministry but about building with purity, purpose, and preparation. In God’s “great house” (the Church), there are vessels of gold and silver—refined, valuable, and useful—and vessels of wood and earth—unprepared, easily corrupted, and dishonoring. The goal is to be a vessel of honor, sanctified and ready for the Master’s use.

The Story of the Three Trees illustrates that even when life doesn’t go as planned, God shapes us for greater purposes than we imagined (Jeremiah 29:11). Like the trees, we must trust His refining process.

Becoming a Vessel of Honor requires:

• Purging – Intentionally removing sin and compromise through self-examination, repentance, and renewal of mind (2 Cor. 13:5; 1 John 1:9; Rom. 12:2).

• Preparation – Growing in intimacy with Christ, sound doctrine, humility, and readiness for service (Eph. 2:10; 2 Tim. 4:2).

• Persistence – Fleeing youthful lusts, following righteousness, and fighting for the faith (2 Tim. 2:22; 2:3).

Key truths:

• God doesn’t use perfect people, but He uses purified ones.

• Character builds lasting works.

• Past failures don’t disqualify you if you surrender to God’s cleansing.

Prayer: Lord, make us vessels of honor—clean, set apart, and ready for Your purposes in every season.