Philosophy View of Useless
Not fulfilling or not expected to achieve the intended purpose or desired outcome.
Having no ability or skill in a specified activity or area.
Philosophy View of Fruitless
Failing to achieve the desired results; unproductive or useless.
Not producing fruit.
Biblical View of Fruitless
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
Ephesians 5:11 NIV
Biblical View of Useless
But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law because these are unprofitable and useless.
Titus 3:9 NIV
Have you ever been in a situation or work in an organisation where you always tried your best to be productive and your boss consistently makes you feel that your effort is not good enough, did that situation make you feel useless and fruitless?
Here we have the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth who were:
Old
Godly
Obedient
Spiritual folks.
They were righteous in God's sight, careful to obey all the Lord’s commandments and statutes but one might wonder what good did all that good behaviour do for them, because what they wanted most they couldn’t have. They wanted a child but they had none because Elizabeth was barren and now they were both very old. According to the book of Luke 1:6-7
Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.
But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
Luke 1:6-7 KJV
In today's society there are a lot of women who are not able to bear children and they are happy living their lives, but in Elizabeth’s days women not having children posed a problem. Pointing someone out as useless and fruitless can be seen as aggression. Infertility carried a double stigma for woman in Elizabeth’s culture and time. It made a woman feel useless and fruitless and it left the family with no heirs meaning that there will be no children to take over any legally entitled property or rank of another on that person's death.
Yet Elizabeth seems to have acknowledge God’s holy nature, praised him for his is mysterious ways, including what his will seemed to be concerning her heart’s desire for a child and continued to serve him well into her old age. As she progressed in age, she must have believed that there was no hope of ever having a child. Yet often when we get to the very point of feeling that you are finished, that is when God begins. When Elizabeth became old God gave her the most important work of her life.
Similarly Moses was eighty years old when he was called from the desert of Midian to Egypt on the behalf of Israel.
And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.
Exodus 7:7 KJV
Caleb was 85 years old when he began to conquer his portion of promised land.
And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.
Joshua 14:10 KJV
Our Lord and Master do not seem to consider our birthdays or age the same way we do. It is not a matter of how old we are, but how willing we are to respond to God’s working in our lives. In other words, it is not the age, but the heart that matters. Elizabeth was not too old to be FRUITFUL or USEFUL. According to the book of Luke 1:39-41 echoes that Mary went to see Elizabeth when she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit, and everyone else thought that she was crazy but Elizabeth who was filled with the holy Spirit knew that there was a connection because the baby moved in her womb.
And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda.
And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
Luke 1:39-41 KJV
Elizabeth believed God would do the impossible. As she said to Mary you are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.
And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Luke 1:45 KJV
To believe that God can do the impossible is to find the impossible possible. Are you feeling old or inadequate? Take heart, God has a plan for your life that is not hindered by our age or short comings. Ask him to tell you about his plans.
Let us ask him to make us Useful and fruitful for his Kingdom
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