USEFUL?

USEFUL?

Friday, August 24, 2018

   Matthew 4:4  But he [Jesus] answered and said, It is written [Deut.8:3], Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. [Lk.4:4]

   2Timothy 3:16-17  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

  There are truths that we may not like to hear. This includes the hard sayings of Jesus.

  Dad taught me that being and feeling useful is *healthy motivation. In my third decade I noted that Jesus had important words on the matter.

Matthew 21:18-21  Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

  It is a shame to not give forth the whole counsel of God.  This includes all of Jesus’ teachings, not just the nice ones. We should tell of the great risk of not being useful. We should grieve for those who have no desire to be useful serving God and mankind in His Way.

  I always liked being and feeling useful. After trusting Jesus as personal Redeemer the why and how of the practice changed and is still being altered. (The Lord’s people may be useful to our Lord until our last breath.)

EBB4

*He also taught me that being a people-pleaser in order to feel useful is unhealthy.