Topical Encyclopedia
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 ReferencesIn 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 ReferencesIn 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 OnesimusThe 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 ServiceThe 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 ApplicationThe 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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
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.
Greek
2173. euchrestos --useful...useful. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: euchrestos Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo'-khrays-tos) Short Definition:
useful, serviceable Definition:
useful...5624. ophelimos --useful, profitable
...useful, profitable. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: ophelimos Phonetic
Spelling: (o-fel'-ee-mos) Short Definition: profitable, beneficial,useful...
5539. chresimos --useful
...useful. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: chresimos Phonetic Spelling:
(khray'-see-mos) Short Definition:useful, profitable Definition:useful...
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....
4851b. sumphoros -- profitable,useful
... 4851a, 4851b. sumphoros. 4852 . profitable,useful. Transliteration:
sumphoros Short Definition: benefit. Word Origin from sumphero...
5543. chrestos -- serviceable, good
... serviceable, good. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: chrestos Phonetic
Spelling: (khrase-tos') Short Definition:useful, gentle, pleasant, kind...
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...
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, amuseful (to), profit....
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...
5541. chresteuomai -- to be kind
... be kind. Middle voice from chrestos; to show oneselfuseful, ie Act benevolently --
be kind. see GREEK chrestos. (chresteuetai) -- 1 Occurrence. 5540, 5541....
Strong's Hebrew
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
...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...
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...
Library
Fifteen ThousandUseful Phrases
Fifteen ThousandUseful Phrases. <. Fifteen ThousandUseful Phrases Greenville
Kleiser. Produced by Don Kostuch Table of Contents. Title Page....
On what isUseful: not that which is Advantageous...
... Chapter VI. On what isuseful: not that which is advantageous? On what isuseful:
not that which is advantageous, but that which is just and virtuous....
What isUseful is the Same as what is virtuous...
... Book II. Chapter VII. What isuseful is the same as what is virtuous?
What isuseful is the same as what is virtuous; nothing...
Whether the Honest Differs from theUseful 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 theuseful and the...
How virtuous andUseful was that which Elisha Did. ...
... Book III. Chapter XIV. How virtuous anduseful was that which Elisha
did.? How virtuous anduseful was that which Elisha did....
Useful Phrases
Fifteen ThousandUseful Phrases. <.... SECTION IUSEFUL PHRASES.USEFUL
PHRASES. A. abandoned hope. abated pride. abbreviated visit....
Whether it wasUseful for Laws to be Framed by Men?
... OF HUMAN LAW (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether it wasuseful for laws to be framed
by men? Objection 1: It would seem that it was notuseful...
Whether Sorrow Can be aUseful Good?
... OF THE GOODNESS AND MALICE OF SORROW OR PAIN (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether sorrow can
be auseful good?... iii, 2). Therefore sorrow is not auseful good....
Useful Hints.
... THE VALUE OF A PRAYING MOTHER CHAPTER XXVII.USEFUL HINTS. There is... secure.
By this means muchuseful knowledge may be stored. The...
How it isUseful for us to Take Possession of their Lands.
... II. Second Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter XXIII. How it isuseful for
us to take possession of their lands. But the fact that...
Thesaurus
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
...Useless (47 Occurrences)
... Exercise for the body is not useless, but godliness isuseful in every respect,
possessing, as it does, the promise of Life now and of the Life which is soon...
Good (8348 Occurrences)
... 1. (superl.) Possessing desirable qualities; adapted to answer the end designed;
promoting success, welfare, or happiness; serviceable;useful; fit; excellent...
Worth (36 Occurrences)
... 6. (a.) That quality of a thing which renders it valuable oruseful; sum of valuable
qualities which render anythinguseful and sought; value; hence, often...
Iron (104 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The most common and mostuseful metallic element, being of almost universal
occurrence, usually in the form of an oxide (as hematite, magnetite, etc...
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...
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...
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...
Concordance
... facilitate reference by giving not only single words, but also phrases under which
several passages are grouped, and to make the work moreuseful by furnishing...
Dictionaries
... London, 1661. Winer, GB Biblisches Realworterb. 3rd edition, 1847-48, 2 volumes
(stilluseful). Zeller, H. Biblisches Worterb. Stuttgart, 1855-58, 2 volumes....
Resources
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