The concept of usefulness in the Bible is often associated with the idea of being beneficial, profitable, or serving a purpose in accordance with God's will. The Scriptures provide numerous examples and teachings that highlight the importance of being useful in the service of God and others.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, the idea of usefulness is often linked to wisdom and righteousness. Proverbs 12:18 states, "The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Here, the usefulness of wise speech is emphasized as it brings healing and edification, contrasting with the harm caused by reckless words.

The account of Joseph in Genesis also illustrates the theme of usefulness. Despite being sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph's ability to interpret dreams and manage resources becomes useful to Pharaoh and the entire nation of Egypt during a time of famine (Genesis 41:39-40). Joseph's usefulness is a testament to God's providence and the fulfillment of His purposes through individuals.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul frequently addresses the concept of usefulness in the context of Christian service and spiritual gifts. In 2 Timothy 2:21 , Paul writes, "If a man cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work." This passage underscores the importance of personal holiness and readiness to be used by God for His purposes.

The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 further illustrates the principle of usefulness. The servants who wisely invest their master's resources are commended and rewarded, while the servant who fails to use his talent is rebuked. This parable teaches that God expects His followers to be productive and to use their gifts and resources for His kingdom.

Philemon and Onesimus

The letter to Philemon provides a personal example of usefulness in the early Christian community. Onesimus, a runaway slave, becomes a believer and is described by Paul as "formerly useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me" (Philemon 1:11). This transformation highlights the redemptive power of the Gospel, which can make even those who were once considered unprofitable into valuable members of the body of Christ.

Spiritual Gifts and Service

The Apostle Paul also discusses the usefulness of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12. He explains that each believer is given gifts by the Holy Spirit for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7). These gifts are meant to be used in service to others, building up the church and advancing God's kingdom. The diversity of gifts reflects the manifold ways in which believers can be useful in God's work.

Practical Application

The Bible encourages believers to seek to be useful in their daily lives, whether through acts of service, wise stewardship of resources, or the exercise of spiritual gifts. Colossians 3:23-24 exhorts, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, knowing that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." This passage reminds Christians that their ultimate aim is to serve Christ, making their efforts eternally significant and useful in His sight.(a.) Full of use, advantage, or profit; producing, or having power to produce, good; serviceable for any end or object; helpful toward advancing any purpose; beneficial; profitable; advantageous; as, vessels and instruments useful in a family; books useful for improvement; useful knowledge; useful arts.2173. euchrestos -- useful
... useful. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: euchrestos Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo'-khrays-tos) Short Definition: useful, serviceable Definition: useful ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2173.htm - 6k

5624. ophelimos -- useful, profitable
... useful, profitable. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: ophelimos Phonetic
Spelling: (o-fel'-ee-mos) Short Definition: profitable, beneficial, useful ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5624.htm - 6k

5539. chresimos -- useful
... useful. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: chresimos Phonetic Spelling:
(khray'-see-mos) Short Definition: useful, profitable Definition: useful ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5539.htm - 6k

3682. Onesimos -- "useful," Onesimus, a Christian
... Onesimos. 3683 . "useful ... Word Origin from onesis (use, profit, advantage) Definition
"useful," Onesimus, a Christian NASB Word Usage Onesimus (2). Onesimus. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3682.htm - 6k

4851b. sumphoros -- profitable, useful
... 4851a, 4851b. sumphoros. 4852 . profitable, useful. Transliteration:
sumphoros Short Definition: benefit. Word Origin from sumphero ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4851b.htm - 5k

5543. chrestos -- serviceable, good
... serviceable, good. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: chrestos Phonetic
Spelling: (khrase-tos') Short Definition: useful, gentle, pleasant, kind ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5543.htm - 7k

2111. euthetos -- well-placed, ie ready for use
... ready for use. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: euthetos Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo'-thet-os) Short Definition: suitable, fit, useful Definition: suitable ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2111.htm - 7k

5623. opheleo -- to help, benefit, do good
... opheleo Phonetic Spelling: (o-fel-eh'-o) Short Definition: I help, benefit, do good
Definition: I help, benefit, do good, am useful (to), profit. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5623.htm - 7k

5544. chrestotes -- goodness, excellence, uprightness
... 5544 (a noun, derived from 5543 , "useful, profitable") -- properly, , ie
for (for what is ); that is also . 5544 ("useful kindness ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5544.htm - 7k

5541. chresteuomai -- to be kind
... be kind. Middle voice from chrestos; to show oneself useful, ie Act benevolently --
be kind. see GREEK chrestos. (chresteuetai) -- 1 Occurrence. 5540, 5541. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5541.htm - 6k

6743b. tsaleach -- to advance, prosper
... 1), prospers (2), send prosperity (1), succeed (10), succeeding (1), successful
(4), successfully completed (1), thrive (2), useful (1), victoriously (1 ...
/hebrew/6743b.htm - 6k

3276. yaal -- to confer or gain profit or benefit
... A primitive root; properly, to ascend; figuratively, to be valuable (objectively:
useful, subjectively: benefited) -- X at all, set forward, can do good, (be ...
/hebrew/3276.htm - 6k

5532a. sakan -- to be of use or service, benefit
... benefit NASB Word Usage advantage (1), ever been accustomed (1), intimately acquainted
(1), nurse (2), profits (1), steward (1), use (1), useful (1), useless ...
/hebrew/5532a.htm - 5k

Fifteen Thousand Useful Phrases
Fifteen Thousand Useful Phrases. <. Fifteen Thousand Useful Phrases Greenville
Kleiser. Produced by Don Kostuch Table of Contents. Title Page. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/

On what is Useful: not that which is Advantageous...
... Chapter VI. On what is useful: not that which is advantageous? On what is useful:
not that which is advantageous, but that which is just and virtuous. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter vi on what is.htm

What is Useful is the Same as what is virtuous...
... Book II. Chapter VII. What is useful is the same as what is virtuous?
What is useful is the same as what is virtuous; nothing ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter vii what is useful.htm

Whether the Honest Differs from the Useful and the Pleasant?
... must be taken here in its broad sense as synonymous with moral goodness, from the
point of view of decorum.] Whether the honest differs from the useful and the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the honest differs from.htm

How virtuous and Useful was that which Elisha Did. ...
... Book III. Chapter XIV. How virtuous and useful was that which Elisha
did.? How virtuous and useful was that which Elisha did. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xiv how virtuous and.htm

Useful Phrases
Fifteen Thousand Useful Phrases. <. ... SECTION I USEFUL PHRASES. USEFUL
PHRASES. A. abandoned hope. abated pride. abbreviated visit. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section i useful phrases.htm

Whether it was Useful for Laws to be Framed by Men?
... OF HUMAN LAW (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether it was useful for laws to be framed
by men? Objection 1: It would seem that it was not useful ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it was useful for.htm

Whether Sorrow Can be a Useful Good?
... OF THE GOODNESS AND MALICE OF SORROW OR PAIN (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether sorrow can
be a useful good? ... iii, 2). Therefore sorrow is not a useful good. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether sorrow can be a 2.htm

Useful Hints.
... THE VALUE OF A PRAYING MOTHER CHAPTER XXVII. USEFUL HINTS. There is ... secure.
By this means much useful knowledge may be stored. The ...
/.../byrum/the value of a praying mother/chapter xxvii useful hints.htm

How it is Useful for us to Take Possession of their Lands.
... II. Second Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter XXIII. How it is useful for
us to take possession of their lands. But the fact that ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xxiii how it is.htm

Useful (14 Occurrences)
... good; serviceable for any end or object; helpful toward advancing any purpose;
beneficial; profitable; advantageous; as, vessels and instruments useful in a ...
/u/useful.htm - 10k

Useless (47 Occurrences)
... Exercise for the body is not useless, but godliness is useful in every respect,
possessing, as it does, the promise of Life now and of the Life which is soon ...
/u/useless.htm - 19k

Good (8348 Occurrences)
... 1. (superl.) Possessing desirable qualities; adapted to answer the end designed;
promoting success, welfare, or happiness; serviceable; useful; fit; excellent ...
/g/good.htm - 26k

Worth (36 Occurrences)
... 6. (a.) That quality of a thing which renders it valuable or useful; sum of valuable
qualities which render anything useful and sought; value; hence, often ...
/w/worth.htm - 17k

Iron (104 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The most common and most useful metallic element, being of almost universal
occurrence, usually in the form of an oxide (as hematite, magnetite, etc ...
/i/iron.htm - 50k

Furnish (8 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To supply with anything necessary, useful, or appropriate; to provide; to
equip; to fit out, or fit up; to adorn; as, to furnish a family with ...
/f/furnish.htm - 11k

Practical (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Capable of being turned to use or account; useful, in distinction
from ideal or theoretical; as, practical chemistry. 3. (a ...
/p/practical.htm - 7k

Education (4 Occurrences)
... Their chief interest centered in the flocks and herds from which they gained a
livelihood, and in the simple, useful arts that seem gradually to have become ...
/e/education.htm - 40k

Concordance
... facilitate reference by giving not only single words, but also phrases under which
several passages are grouped, and to make the work more useful by furnishing ...
/c/concordance.htm - 16k

Dictionaries
... London, 1661. Winer, GB Biblisches Realworterb. 3rd edition, 1847-48, 2 volumes
(still useful). Zeller, H. Biblisches Worterb. Stuttgart, 1855-58, 2 volumes. ...
/d/dictionaries.htm - 38k

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