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Friends, greetings in Jesus Name! Today, I will be sharing with you on what I title, “Good for Nothing”. Someone may wonder, why Good for Nothing? Well, the topic is chosen to spur you to anger. Yes, real anger and displeasure, not against anyone but against yourself. If you truly want to know who is behind all your travails, just look at the mirror, and the person you see is responsible. I believe you know who that is? Your answer is as good as mine. You see, after reading this message, you will take a deep breath, and cross-examine yourself to know if really, you’re useful or useless, good for something or good for nothing in life. Matthew 5:13 declares, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then Good for Nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. The phrase, “Good for Nothing” connotes a state of being unworthy for anything useful. In other words, being useless. So, when a person is said to be good for nothing as stated in the above scripture we just read, it means that person has lost his or her usefulness, become tasteless, lazy to do what’s required of him or her, reckless or irresponsible, lacking strength of character or initiative to carry out any meaningful thing in life.

In my line of duty as a management consultant, coach and trainer, I have had the opportunity to interact with Executives and CEOs of both big and small organisations. One thing you can’t take from them is their ability to spot talents. They have an eye for excellence. They know those that will help make a difference for their organisation. They also know truants, those doing eye service in the company. I once worked for a firm where the CEO was passing by, and he turned to one of his managers and asked: Who is that employee sitting there? Before the manager could say a word, he said: “He’s useless and should be laid off.” Jesus declared, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:5-6).

You see, not everyone withers like a branch, and not every employee of a company gets sacked or laid-off easily. Even in the phase of downsizing or economic crunch, there are employees every employer fights to keep. Do you know why? They are useful – “Good for Something” – employees who makes things happen. A CEO of a company was asked during an interview: Which employees would you keep? He replied: “The ones who realize that every decision, idea, action, and plan must be linked to the long-term financial stability and growth of our company. I need to keep employees who are determined to add unique personal value in pursuit of that goal.” Let me ask: If the company where you work decides to lay-off some staff, will your name appear on the list of affected employees earmarked to be thrown out? Yes or No? If you’re not sure of your answer, then you’re not a key success indicator for that company. Really, being “good for nothing” or “good for something” is a choice in life. The bible declares in 2 Timothy 2:20-21, “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”

Are you a vessel of honour or vessel of dishonour? The choice is yours to whichever vessel you become. The bible says in Daniel 6:3 that, an excellent spirit was found in Daniel. Why? He was a vessel of honour unto every good work. King Nebuchadnezzar could not do without Daniel during his reign as King of Babylon. In Daniel 2:46-48, the bible recorded that Nebuchadnezzar bowed and prostrated before Daniel. As a matter of fact, the influence of Daniel spanned about 70 years in Babylon, and was found worthy to serve under four different Kings in Babylon. Look friend, when you’re “Good for Nothing”, you’re a nobody, and incapable of putting your God on display like Daniel, Joseph, and a whole lot of others. Now, how does one escape the trap of being Good for Nothing? It all begins by understanding why life is given. Living your life is all about being useful in three major areas. First, you live to be useful to God. Yes, God is the giver of life and has a plan and purpose for your life. There’s an assignment upon your life to fulfil. You become a useful tool in God’s hand when you key into his plan and assignment for your life (1 John 3:8).

Secondly, you live to be useful to yourself. In other words, you’re not a burden or liability to anyone. You are useful to yourself when you are productive and living a fulfilled life. “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men” (Proverbs 22:29). Thirdly, you live to be useful to mankind. Dr. Myles Munroe once said, “Don’t be a generational thief.” In other words, do not deny others your quota or contribution you owe them for their well-being in fulfilment of their purpose. In this third phase, your life becomes a blessing and succour to others. Meaning, everywhere you go lives are being touched. You understand that life is not so much about what you acquire or amass for yourself, but the difference you make in the lives of others that brings about positive change in their lives (Proverbs 19:17; Luke 6:38). According to Benson Idahosa, “Amassing wealth for personal consumption is poverty in disguise.” I hope you have been so blessed. Remember, God created you to make an impact (Genesis 1:26-28). For you are fearfully and wonderfully made by God to be “Good for Something” not “Good for Nothing”. You’re Blessed. Have a Fantastic Week. With love, Elvis!