Are we really useful to God?

Well well... another day, another God time, another conviction... Another blog article.

The conviction today, in the form of a question, is whether we really are useful to God. Not whether God can use us or not; that answer is painfully clear throughout the scriptures and the world. But rather, the question is whether I (we) are MAKING OURSELVES useful and useable for God. God will use us if we present ourselves as useable... but are we? Maybe this is why we always feel like there should be something more, like God isn't as near as He should be, or as near as he could be.

Maybe it's because when we do things "for God" with a proud heart God is actually against us. Maybe it's because when we do things "for God" in our own strength, we tell God that he isn't needed. Maybe it's because when we're too busy with life we don't want God to interrupt with His schedule. Maybe it's because, even though Jesus said some interesting things, we still know better; I mean really now, times have changed over the past 2000 years. How can we honestly expect Jesus to understand our schedules and our priorities and our lives?

Maybe if you're like me and all those things listed above hit home a little too hard... you need to do some serious business with God.

1Co 1:26 - 31 "For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong; and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, yea and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are: that no flesh should glory before God. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."

For behold your CALLING brethren... not many who are wise in the world, mighty, noble... are called. But the foolish, weak things are. Chosen by God. To shame the strong. To BRING TO NOTHING those that are something... that NO FLESH SHOULD GLORY BEFORE GOD.

We need to make ourselves nothing in the world for God to be able to use us! If we're too caught up in the things of the world... If we glorieth... let us glory in the Lord! As Oswald Says, "The only way any man or woman can ever be of service to God is when he or she is willing to renounce all natural excellencies and determine to be weak in Him - "I am here for one thing only, for Jesus Christ to manifest Himself in me." That is to be the steadfast habit of a Christian's life. Whenever we think we are of use to God, we hinder him."

But But But... what can we do if we're weak? We can't let others know we are weak! They'll tear us apart! How are we going to convert people to Christianity if they think we're a bunch of weaklings? If we're nothing what can we do? Why would God want us to become nothing? How is that loving? I thought we were SUPPOSED to want to serve God and be of use... now we can't even try to be? AHHHHH...

Now now... calm yourself. There are answers.

2 Co 12:5-10 "...On mine own behalf I will not glory, save in my weaknesses. For if I should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he seeth me to be, or heareth from me. And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch. Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

Last I checked, Paul was one of the people in history that God unarguably used in very great ways. He lead or helped lead many to Christ. Heck, if it weren't for Him, we wouldn't even have most of the new testament! But look what He himself says in the passage above.

"I won't give glory to myself, except to my weaknesses. Let men make their opinions from what they see me do and hear me say, not what I say about myself. God gives me great revelations (half of the new testament). But so I won't over-exalt myself in that, I got a thorn in the flesh from Satan (a disease maybe?) to keep me humbled. I brought it to God 3 times, but all He said was 'My grace is sufficient for you, and my power is made perfect in your weakness'. Well, I suppose I'd rather take pleasure in my weakness so the power of Christ can be in me. I take pleasure now in weakness, injuries, necessities, persecutions, distresses for CHRIST'S SAKE... for when I am weak, I am Strong."

Read it in the message version too, it's good there as well (biblegateway.com if you don't have a copy).

We must stay humble. We must stay poor in our spirits. We must come to a place where we do nothing in our own strength. When we do stuff on our own, without God, we might as well be telling God that we don't need him. That we're better than him. "You sit this one out, God. You look like you could use a breather. I'll handle it."

How do we do this? Well, Oswald has the answer once again. Is your mind stayed on God... or is it starved?

Isaiah 26:3 "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."

Focus on God, always. Ha easier said than done. But it's a habit that needs to be formed. Learn to constantly re-focus on God, no matter what you do. Keep the eyes above, and your mind on God, and everything you do on earth will begin to reflect that. Will you look like a fool most of the time? Probably. Will you see tangible results most of the time? Probably not. Will people mock you and take advantage of you? Probably. Will people think you're weak? Probably. Will you become weak, and injured and needy and persecuted and distressed? Most likely. But it will be for Christ's sake, and in YOUR weakness, Jesus is made strong in you. Which, according to my basic understanding, is the point of Christianity.

When we get to the place where we are continually focused on God, where we have given up our rights to all fleshly pleasures and desires, where we are content with weakness for Christ's sake... We will finally become fully useful to God. When we no longer try to do things on our own strength, when we no longer do things to glorify ourselves, but only to glorify God... We will be seen as useable in God's eyes.

And if we keep making this life-shaping and life-changing decision day after day, and NOT let it get to our heads...

We just might get to the end of our time on earth, and hear "Well done, good and faithful servent" as we enter into eternal life, with He who makes us alive.