Does God use us?
Christians often talk about being used by God. But being used often connotes someone selfishly taking advantage of other human beings and their freedom. Besides the negative connotations, it also implies passivity.
God called Moses his friend and Jesus calls us friends. Friends don’t use each other. When they do it’s called betrayal. As friends of God, we are called to participate with the Holy Spirit in his ministry of love, not to be passive puppets whose strings are pulled whenever God needs something done. God is our Father and calls us his children. As parents, we wouldn’t use our children and I believe God doesn’t use us either.
Christianity is participation in the life of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God wants people who freely love and follow him. That’s why he gave us freedom of choice: the choice to obey or turn away, the choice to love or not. He gave us the freedom to work with him or not. We are not forced but allowed to make our own decisions.
It might sound like simple semantics to some, but words are important and have power. Participation has a much more positive feel and is motivating. To think the Creator of all things wants us, by choice, to participate in what he’s doing in this sad, fallen world moves us to want to get involved. When we participate, we have a real sense of accomplishment – not out of vanity or selfish pride, but knowing we’ve made a contribution and pleased and delighted the only one whose opinion counts for anything. Will God say well done to someone he used? Why would he reward a puppet on a string? Do we really love someone who uses and controls us? Or do we resent him or her?
Let’s change the way we think of and talk about working for God and serving his people. Let’s not ask God to use us, and let’s not think of ourselves as being used. Rather let’s see our ministries and work for the Kingdom of God as fun, exciting, loving participation with our friend Jesus.
Study by Tammy Tkach
First published on 23 April 2024, at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com a personal blog which is not sponsored by Grace Communion International.
About the writer:
Tammy Tkach is the Assistant Pastor of the Eugene, Oregon, USA, Grace Communion International congregation. She is a speaker and writer, and publishes a blog at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com
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