Use or Abuse?

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." (I Peter 4: 10 NIV)

To properly "use" anything is to "faithfully administer" that thing. It is the opposite of "abusing" or of "misusing" a thing.

So Paul speaks favorably of those who, through God given wisdom, "use this world," and who are, therefore, "not abusing it." (I Corinthians 7: 21 KJV)

"Abusing" is from a Greek word that means (Strong) "to use much or excessively or ill" and "to use up, consume by use" and "to use fully."

People use, but they also abuse; they misuse, and they also "use up," and like inanimate things, are either useful or useless. To "waste" something is also a way in which people abuse and misuse or use up a resource.

What is useful is judged as "profitable," while that which is esteemed as "useless" is unprofitable. In the above verses Paul wants Christians to be proper "users" of things, rather than either "abusers" or "misusers."

"Art thou called [being] a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use [it] rather." (I Corinthians 7: 21 KJV)

The message here is clear - "use it" but do not "abuse" it. When Paul says "use it," he means to say, by way of exhortation, "make use of it"!

"Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me." (Philemon 1: 11 NIV)

Onesimus was a slave of Philemon. Philemon was a Christian. Onesimus also became a Christian. Paul petitioned Philemon to grant Onesimus his freedom in order that Onesimus might join him in his missionary work and become of greater "use" to the Lord.

The Lord, thankfully, has "use of" sinners and invites them all to come to him so that he might make use of them, using the converted sinner in great things, and giving to him a superior purpose in life, so that he learns how to use this world, and the gifts God gives to him, rather than abusing or misusing all.

"I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness." (Romans 6: 19 NIV)

Paul is basically saying - "just as you have used your mouth in evil things, abusing the tongue, and the gift of taste and speech, so now use your tongue in a more correct and useful way, using it to taste good things, to speak truth; And, just as you have used your eyes and ears to see and hear evil, abusing these abilities and gifts, so now use them properly, to see and hear righteously; And, just as you have used your hands and feet in sin, now use them in righteousness."

"You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit." (Psalm 50: 19 NIV)

"Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, or use your lips to deceive." (Proverbs 24: 28 NIV)

Are we using our tongues or abusing them? Are we using them to speak profitably or unprofitably? or misusing these abilities?

Some "use their hands to do evil." (Psalm 125: 3 NIV) To these we say:

"He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need." (Ephesians 4: 28 NIV)

A sinner is one who is misusing and abusing his tongue and his hands, yea, wasting all his gifts and resources.

"Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?" (Proverbs 17: 16 NIV)

Certainly people misuse and abuse the money that God is pleased to allow them to have. They are not, therefore, "good stewards" of what God has given to them, abusing the financial resources that they have been providentially given. Paul would say to every Christian - "use your financial resources, but do not misuse them."

"A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered." (Proverbs 17: 27 NIV)

Do we use or abuse words and language skills? When we say "Jesus Christ," is it to curse or to speak reverently?

"We know that the law is good if one uses it properly." (I Timothy 1: 8 NIV)

Again, do not people either use the law or abuse it? Is this not true whether it is the law of God or of men? Do we all not naturally look for "loopholes" in law so that we might thereby not obey it? Think of all the "frivolous lawsuits" today! Is this not abusing the legal system?

"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." (Galatians 5: 13 NIV)

"Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God." (I Peter 2: 16 NIV)

Do not people abuse their liberties? whether it be natural or Christian liberty? Do people not misuse their freedom?

"Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses." (I Timothy 5: 23 NIV)

Certainly people "abuse" drugs and alcohol rather than using these things properly. It is not wrong to eat, but it is a sin to eat too much, to be a glutton. Drinking wine is not wrong, but it is sin to drink too much, for then we are "abusing" rather than "using."

"For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error (of abuse) which was meet." (Romans 1: 26, 27 KJV)

The sinful world is filled with such misuse of the body. Sexual perversion is an abuse of the body.

"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more." (I Corinthians 9: 16-19 KJV)

See how Paul was always careful about this wisdom and ability to use things correctly and profitably, rather than abusing or misusing them. Is there not a whole lot of "abuse of power" both in the world and in the Christian community?

"And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you." (II Corinthians 12: 15 KJV)

"Spend" means to properly use one's resources, natural or spiritual. "Be spent" means to be used by the Lord, being useful in his service.

Friend, how are you in this regard? Are you one who is using or abusing the things Lord God has given to you?