In the Bible readings I read daily, Nicky Gumbel has written about 25 ways to be useful to God. His advice is worth repeating.
- Love your enemies (Prov 25:21-22) – and thereby reflect God’s character.
- Watch your speech (2 Tim 2:16) Our words can either build up or tear down.
- Avoid quarrelling (Prov 25:24, 2 Tim 2:14,23-24)
- Bring good news (Prov 25:25) – be positive!
- Stand for what is right (Eph 6:14)
- Do not seek your own honour, but God’s. Look to the interests of others. (Phil 2:3-4)
- Be self-controlled and stop trying to control others (Gal 5:22-23)
- Don’t be over-concerned with what others say
- Pass on what God gives you (2 Tim 2:2)
- Endure hardship (2 Tim 2:10,12) – there’s no avoiding it in life, but how you respond makes a huge difference
- Avoid distractions (2 Tim 2:4)
- Keep the rules (2 Tim 2:5)
- Work hard (2 Tim 2:6)
- Meditate on God’s words (2 Tim 2:7) – reflecting takes time!
- Focus on Jesus Christ (2 Tim 2:8)
- Correctly handle God’s word (2 Tim 2:15)
- Turn away from evil (2 Tim 2:19, 22)
- Be a peacemaker (2 Tim 2:22-23)
- Be kind to everyone (2 Tim 2:24) – everyone is an all-inclusive word!
- Learn to teach (2 Tim 2:24-25). We all teach in sme way – a worker teaches his colleauges through their example; a parent teaches children in word and deed.
- Don’t be resentful (2 Tim 2:24) Resentment poisons relationships and turns us into sour, unwelcoming people.
- Hear the word of the Lord – God is a shepherd who speaks to his sheep (John 10:3-4)
- Allow God to speak through you. (Jer 50:1) It’s an amazing thought that God can speak through our words!
- Walk closely with God. (Jer 50:4)
- Find rest in God. (Jer 6:16, Jer 50:6)
Many of us don’t feel useful at all; we feel useless. But this practical advice shows how we can be like Onesimus, once a runaway slave who was useless to his master, but turned into a useful brother in Christ by God’s mercy. Being useful to God is not as hard as it may sound!
