useful

I read through the one chapter book of Philemon this morning. (I wonder if his nickname was "Phil"?)

This book is a letter from Paul to his friend & Christ follower named Philemon.

It seems Phil's slave, Onesimus, had run away. Running away many times could get you a severe beating or death back then.

Onesimus had come to know Paul, & had become a Christ follower as well.

Paul sent Onesimus back to Phil. Paul is asking Phil in this book to accept Onesimus back as a brother in Christ.

Onesimus means "useful"

I've always thought it would be cool to have a ministry call Onesimus & to have as your mission to simply be useful.

Here's what dictionary.com says are the current meanings of "useful"
1. being of use  or service; serving some purpose; advantageous, helpful, or of good effect: a useful member of society.
2. of practical use,  as for doing work; producing material results; supplying common needs: the useful arts; useful work.

So many times we think we have to "convert the nations" or accomplish something on a huge scale.

Lots of the time we spend so much effort winning others approval of our spiritual or temporal activities.

I wonder sometimes if many of us would find we are touching more lives, having more impact & influence, & doing more for the Kingdom of God if we simply tried to be useful in our day to day lives & let God take care of the consequences of our usefulness.