God uses people – but always in a good way

By Editor | December 9, 2010 |

By the Rev. Olen Evans

First Baptist Church, Brownstown

Everyone wants to feel useful. No one wants to feel used.
To be told that someone has no use for you is the height of insults.
Have you ever just felt used – completely taken advantage of, with no concern for your personal feelings or well-being?
Maybe you were flattered, just as a technique to manipulate your generosity or good will. Maybe you have been the girl courted, only to learn that he was using you to provoke his real sweetheart to jealousy. You are left feeling cheap, dejected…and used.
God often uses people, yet the end result does not make a person feel empty and devalued. God makes you feel significant, important and of great value. To stand in the place of God as a comforter is worth all of the affliction suffered in learning how to properly relate to the afflicted. To take the fall so God’s name is honored is a privilege. He must increase; I must decrease.
Perhaps your very presence in a crowd has influenced controversial deliberation toward nobler objectives.
God uses people in many ways. He molds each of us to fit his purpose for our lives. But our lives are not his ultimate concern. His glory is fundamental to his entire creation. When the angels sang "Glory to God in the highest," God was using all of his creatures to exalt himself. And rightly so, as there is no other person worthy of worship and glory. Glory to God results in peace to men, as the angels sang.
Mary was a humble servant. She risked her reputation and dismissed any plans of her own to submit to God’s plan. She had no concern for herself. Mary gave herself completely and in a moment to God’s desires. As an unwed but betrothed young maiden, she became pregnant, doubtlessly to be scorned by her community and embarrassed before Joseph (her fiancé). She would forever be misunderstood and hurt by an unwitting populace. A sword would pierce even her own soul. She was used. But in God’s sight, she was highly favored. And in the estimation of all mankind, she was blessed among women.
Joseph was left in a state of confusion. A decision of what to do was bewildering. Unlike Mary, he received no special calling. But circumstances placed him in a position of uncertainty. Not knowing, at first, that God was using him, he might have hastily walked away from the greatest opportunity of his life. He protected the holy family from Herod’s destruction. He provided the home, the lineage and the training of the Christ child. Had he been of a mind to protect himself, he would never have had the joy of knowing Jesus.
The shepherds became evangelists. They went everywhere, proclaiming the glory of God and giving testimony that a saviour was born. It was because they believed the angel and saw the sign of which they has been told. Simple, indeed. But being in the way God led them.
Wise men traveled a great journey, just to worship and enrich a poor baby with gold, frankincense and myrrh. Many believe the wealth was used for Jesus’ protection in the flight to Egypt.
Wherever you are, whatever your ability and circumstances, be ready to change direction upon the first impulse from God. Despise not the day of small things. Do not flee from objectionable opportunities. God will lead you to greater blessing through humble, submissive service.
Allow the trying times to develop character, faithfulness and compassion. It is a privilege to be used by God. God is doing marvelous things in the outworking of redemption. The faithful play a prominent role.
The best is yet to come.