"Useful or Useless?"

Do you consider yourself as useful or useless in the eyes of God? That's something many probably have never thought about. I once had a fellow tell me, "Everyone is worth something, even if they are worth a bad example!" We need to recognize there are things that make one useless to God.

"Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work." (II Tim. 2:21) How can one be certain they are useful to the Master? You must keep yourself clean from things that are defiling. Avoiding worldly and empty chatter is about cleansing yourself (II Tim. 2:16). Watching that we don't have bad attitudes and talk (II Tim. 2:17-18). To be a vessel for the Lord, useful to His glory means we must walk where He wants us to walk. That speaks of "sanctified." Sanctified means to be set apart from what is common. When one concerns themselves with what is honorable and "set apart", they become useful to the Lord! They prepare themselves in their lives to be ready to be used by the Lord when the opportunity is there.

When people are involved in things that are unholy, in worldly and empty chatter, how useful are they to the Lord? How many times have we been in a situation where people sit around and talk about things that are not helpful and useful? Is that being sanctified? We need to realize there are things that destroys the work of God in us.

"Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands having this seal, 'The Lord knows those who are His', and 'Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.'" (II Tim. 2:19) God's firm foundation stands! Here is God's trademark, His brand and God's knows who belongs to Him. Those who belong to God abstain from wickedness and set themselves apart from ungodly attitudes and behavior. This is an immovable foundation and God has set His seal upon them. The result? They are useful to the Master!