Useful To God

“USEFUL TO GOD”

Matthew 5:13-16 (NASB)

David P. Nolte

It was Christmas and Joe wanted to buy a gift for his wife, June, but Joe had two problems: 1. He was a real tightwad; he could squeeze a penny until Lincoln would holler for help. 2. He hated shopping for anything other than tools at Harbor Freight and his wife hated the jumper cables he got her last year. He thought and thought and came up with what he thought was a genius plan.

He searched and found a perfume bottle that looked expensive. He washed it and filled it with water he had colored pink.

When June opened it on Christmas Day, she sprayed some on her wrist and sniffed it, anticipating a scent come from heaven. Puzzled, she sniffed it again – and sniffed it again. “What is this stuff? It has no smell – no fragrance!”

Joe said, “That’s the best part! You know how many people are allergic to strong scents, so I bought some Odorless Fragrance. It’s the latest fad.”

Not saying anything, June plotted her revenge. She knew that Joe liked a lot of salt on his food. After thinking about it, she got his salt shaker and filled it with harmless salt-like crystals. She put it back on the table and waited.

When he came in for breakfast, he sprinkled the crystals onto his eggs and after one bite, he said, “What is this stuff? It has no flavor!” June smirked and said, “You use too much salt so I substituted some Favorless Seasoning. It’s the latest fad!”

Odorless Fragrance? Flavorless Seasoning? That stuff is as useless as an extra armpit. Everybody likes to feel useful. Being useful is almost the same as being wanted or needed. What we don’t want to be is useless and unproductive.

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16 (NASB).

Salt that loses its saltiness is useless. Light that is hidden is useless! So, how can we be sure we are useful to Jesus?

I. WORK WITH JESUS, NOT AGAINST HIM:

A. Jesus said, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” Matthew 12:30 (NLT).

B. We works with Jesus

1. When we obey Him.

2. When we help others to know Nim.

3. When we live lives that are consistent with our claim to be Christians.

C. We work against Him when

1. We are rebellious.

2. We are selfish and unsharing.

3. When we live lives that would make people say, “You are a Christian? I’d would not have guessed it in a thousand years!”

D. Let me illustrate how useless it is to work against Jesus. And how useful it is to work with Him.

1. A man was trying to move a heavy crate and dy, I need helpmaking little progress. His neighbor came over to help and each man pt his shoulder to the box and huffed and puffed and snarled and shoved. The box would not budge. Finally the neighbor said, “We need more help! We’ll never get this crate into your garage at th is rate.” The other man said, “Get it IN? Why, you Ninny! I have been trying to get it OUT of the garage!”

2. Work with and not against Jesus. Like a 5 year old who wanted to move a large rock which was in his way where he was riding his bike. He shoved and groaned but the rock didn’t move. So he went to his dad and said, “Daddy, I need help.” And working together they got that rock moved. We can do all things when we work with Jesus.

To be useful, work with Jesus.

II. DON’T LET OTHERS PULL YOU AWAY FROM JESUS:

A. We are to be salt. Salt influences whatever it touches. We are to let our light shine. Light influences its environment.

1. Be an influence for others, be a leader for Christ.

2. Don’t allow others to influence you to get you sidetracked.

B. People may say,

1. “Only weak people follow Jesus!”

2. “Forget Jesus! Have a lot of fun and when you are old you can think about Jesus.”