Useful – Made Available for God's Use

Usefulness to God rests less on talent and more on a surrendered, refined character. This article explores how God prepares a person for His service, and how we make ourselves available to be used by Him.

Usefulness Begins with Character

We are only useful to God in the measure that (as a channel) we allow Him to use us to affect the world, so allow your heart to be touched by what touches His. God is more interested in our character and availability than in any ability we have. The quality of our inner life is foundational to sustaining the ‘daily grind’ and acquiring the skills we need. It is our responsibility to prepare ourselves to be useful to God by continued repentance of our sins and cleansing by His blood (2 Tim 2:20-21).

Character and availability matter more than ability

For His part God undertakes divine pruning to increase the harvest (Jn 15:2). This ongoing refining depends on our obedience and brings us into greater conformity with His ways, thus making us of greater usefulness for Him (Rom 8:29, 12:1-2; Eph 4:22-24). Am I continually allowing God to change me, aware this will be a never-ending process? As we put the effort into developing various godly qualities in our lives they will increase our effectiveness in the Kingdom of God (2 Pet 1:5-8).

Making Yourself Useful, Step by Step

Begin by making yourself available: rather than pray, ‘Lord use me’, pray to be made usable, recognising there is much unrighteousness still residing within and character qualities that are not compatible with His. Next, do not be envious of the ability or skill of others – instead give yourself fully to what God has called you to be, knowing He will use whatever is made available to Him. This may not be in the way we think He should, yet He knows best – trust Him.

Work with God so you are readied for His use

Then take the mature attitude of ownership: even though you risk possible failure, expend yourself to grow more for the Kingdom of God, and don’t limit what God can do in and through you by wrong mental attitudes or motivations. Finally, know that growth and progress involve hard work and even times of discouragement to build tenacity in us – accept these as facts and step out in faith, doing whatever He tells you to do (Jn 2:5). As we will all give account for our lives, including not doing what God requires of us, be determined to make your life count for eternity, storing up heavenly riches (Mt 6:19-21; Rom 14:12). Vision and effort are required to turn a dream into reality.

Useful to God – Three Biblical Examples

Isaiah responded to God’s call without hesitation: the moment he recognised the need, he offered himself, saying, “Here I am, send me” (Isa 6:8; Heb 10:9). What preceded his surrender was a vision of God’s holiness and an honest confession of his uncleanness (Isa 6:5); what followed came with no job description or guarantee of success – God even warned his ministry would harden hearts (Isa 6:9-10). He went anyway. Usefulness begins with a willing heart, not a polished résumé.

Willing hearts and second chances – God makes the unprofitable useful

John Mark deserted the work when the first missionary journey grew hard (Acts 13:13) – a failure serious enough that Paul refused to take him again (Acts 15:36-40). Yet he did not let one collapse define him: restored through Barnabas’ encouragement, he proved himself over time, comforted Paul in prison (Col 4:10; Phm 1:24), and by the end of Paul’s life was commended in writing: “Get Mark… for he is useful to me for service” (2 Tim 4:11). A poor start does not disqualify a person from future usefulness.

Onesimus had been a runaway slave, useless to his master, yet God’s providence led him to Paul, who became his spiritual father (Phm 1:10). Paul invested in and discipled him, then sent him back to face what he had run from, appealing for his restoration as “a beloved brother” (Phm 1:11-16). His name means “useful”, and God rewrote his life to match it. God specialises in restoring the unprofitable and making them useful.

What These Three Lives Have in Common

Three different men, three different starting points – yet the same pattern emerges. None of them was useful because of flawless credentials: one was a man of unclean lips, one a deserter, one a thief and runaway. What made each of them useful was God’s initiating grace meeting their willing response. Isaiah said yes immediately; Mark said yes again after failure; Onesimus was given a second chance and honoured it. Usefulness, then, is never a matter of comparing our past with another person’s – it is a matter of present surrender.

Present surrender, not past credentials

There is also a lesson here for those of us alongside the struggling. Some of the most useful people in God’s kingdom are useful only because someone else believed in them, restored them, and gave them another opportunity. Ask yourself not only “Am I useful to God?” but also “Whose usefulness am I helping to develop?” (Gal 6:1-2; 1 Thes 5:11,14).

Useful in the Everyday

Secular society considers a person useful if they contribute through meaningful employment and community involvement. Doing what needs to be done often brings more responsibility; if the opportunities are not taken, they are taken away. So as we see a need we should respond (as appropriate), remembering we are doing it for Christ (Eccl 9:10; Mt 25:20-29,34-46; Col 3:17,23).

Volunteering makes this practical: giving time without payment – in a ministry, to a neighbour, in a community project – breaks the consumer mindset, for Jesus came not to be served but to serve (Mk 10:45). Be equally deliberate about your company: associate with skilled, competent people, because “he who walks with wise men will be wise” (Prov 13:20; Prov 27:17). Moses needed Jethro’s counsel (Ex 18:17-24), and Paul developed Timothy and Titus by walking with them through real ministry (2 Tim 2:2).

The goal is contribution, not consumption. Every believer is created in Christ Jesus for good works prepared in advance (Eph 2:10), so rather than asking “What can I get out of this?”, ask “What can I add to this?”. The one who contributes grows capable, connected and useful – to society and to God alike (Gal 6:10; 1 Pet 4:10). Serve enthusiastically, meeting people’s needs, but pace yourself: rest is part of faithful stewardship (Tit 2:14; Jas 1:27).

See a need, respond – contribute, don’t just consume

Reflection and Application

Examine your prayers this week: are you asking God to use you, or asking Him to make you usable?
Name one attitude or habit still “not compatible with His” and surrender it in repentance before Sunday.
Identify one skilled, godly person whose competence you could learn from, and arrange time with them this month.
In one area of life – workplace, church, or neighbourhood – swap “What can I get out of this?” for “What can I add to this?”