I APPEAR TO BE USELESS.
By Rev. James Smith
Many good people live to very little purpose. They do very little good; and when they die, very few miss them. They are aware of this; but they are not properly affected with it, or influenced by it; for if they were, they would soon commence a new course. It was but the other day that a believer, in conversation, said, “Well, I appear to be useless.” And there was too much truth in this. He had light, but he did not let it shine. He had salt, but he did not try to season others with it. He was living too much to himself, looking pretty much on his own things, and not on the things of others. I will suppose that, for a few moments, I am speaking to such an one. I hear him confess, “I am useless.” Then, I say, it is your own fault, for you need not be useless. No matter what station you fill, in what place you dwell, or how small your talents may be, you need not be useless. There is work that you can do. There are souls that you may benefit. There is good seed, and you may sow it. There is good news, and you may spread it. You may speak of Jesus and for Jesus, and speak with effect, too. When a laboring man is out of employment, he goes from place to place, and inquires in every direction for a situation, nor does he rest until he obtains one; and why? Because he really wishes to be employed. And if he cannot get what he wishes, he will, for a time at least, take what he can get. Just so; if you really wish to be employed for Jesus—if you wish to be useful—if you desire to do good in your day and generation, you will look for opportunities, and look out in every direction, and if the kind of service you wish does not offer, you will take what does. Yes; yes, you may be useful if you wish. You may do good, and perhaps great good. You may comfort the feeble-minded, you may strengthen the weak, you may make the widow’s heart sing for joy, you may save souls from death. Do you wish to be useful? Then make up your mind that you can be. Having done so, go to the Lord as to a father, and pray heartily for three things: For confidence, not in yourself, or in your abilities, but confidence in God’s word of promise; in God himself, who works with his people, and through his people, and in your call to work for God. Then pray for power, the power of the Holy Ghost. It is by this we conquer, by this we are made truly useful. I can do nothing effectually of myself, but I can do anything, I can do everything through the power of the Holy Spirit. And then ask for courage; you need this to look your foes in the face, to meet the difficulties that you will meet with in your way, and to persevere in your attempts until you have accomplished your work. Confidence will prepare you to commence your work, power will enable you to do your work, and courage will fit you to persevere with your work until it is finished. From God you may receive these three grand requisites to usefulness; and, therefore, if you wish to be useful, seek them at once—seek them in faith—seek them with importunity—and so seeking you will receive them. Having applied to the Lord to prepare you to do his will, begin the work at once; don’t wait until you feel confident, strong, and courageous, but begin to do something; for God meets us in our work, and answers our prayers while we are at work; yea, sometimes by means of our work. When you attempt to do good, expect that success will crown your efforts. Our success is much more in proportion to our expectations than we are in the habit of thinking. If we work because God commands us, then God will be with us, and if God be with us, we shall, sooner or later, be successful. Persevere; don’t be disheartened or yield to discouragement. The seed that is buried deep and hidden long often produces the most vigorous and fruitful plant. Be not weary in well doing, for in due season ye shall reap if ye faint not. Be patient, and wait like the husbandman, for the rain, sun, wind, and proper season for reaping. The fruit of patient, persevering working for God, may appear, and often does appear, after the laborer has gone to his rest. The apostle reminded the Corinthians that they knew that their labor was not in vain in the Lord. Does not this say, Expect success—persevere in your work—and patiently wait the Lord’s time, who will ultimately give you to reap in joy. To conclude; leave off complaining; say no more, “I am useless,” but make up your mind that you may be useful, that you will be useful; seek grace from the Lord to qualify you to be useful, and his blessing to render you useful; then go to work in order to be useful; and, finally, expect to be useful, persevere, persuaded that you cannot labor in vain, and patiently wait on the Lord, until he crowns your poor efforts with success. If an unconverted sinner reads these lines, faithfulness requires me to say to him, that not only is he useless, but he is positively injurious. Every day, every hour, he is doing mischief, rendering a wrong impression, and encouraging his fellow-sinners in their unbelief and rebellion against God. O my fellow sinners, let me beseech you to come to Jesus, who lovingly calls you, is waiting for you, and will willingly save you! You have been a curse, but you may be a blessing. You are God’s enemy, but you may be his friend; for, after all you have done against him, he still beseeches you to be reconciled unto him, and pledges his word, that in the Judgment he will not place your trespasses to your account. Believe, then. Oh, believe in Jesus, and God and your soul will be friends forever!—Rev. James Smith.