Using a Proper Tool

Philemon 1:11
Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

As a child every time my dad would go outside and work on something I was there right beside him. I have always been interested in how things work. One of my favorite things is tools, especially new tools. I can remember when dad would say, "Go get me the split-ring pliers." I would have absolutely no clue what he would be talking about but then he would show them to me and I would remember for the next time. Some of the memories that I have is using all those tools in the yard for digging and my experiments. Dad would go looking for those tools and he couldn't find them and then all of the sudden I would remember that I used them last. I would run out, find them and bring them to him. (not much has changed today except he is the one getting the tools now, haha)

I remember once we were changing the brakes on a vehicle and dad asked me for the "brake tool". This is a funny shaped tool that is used for adjusting the brakes in a wheel drum. There is absolutely no other use for this tool than adjusting the brakes in these drums. Sure you could open a paint can lid with it but that's really not it's purpose. As I read the scripture this morning I recall how many times we pulled out that "brake tool". Out of all my life it has probably been used five to ten times. In all of our working together, and in all of our building things together, it was never really profitable unto us.

You know, there are days that I am sure I was of no use. Things that God needed done, and I was unprofitable. You see I haven't always been the choice tool. But what fills me with joy this morning is that although at times I was unprofitable, or not the tool of choice that day, God finds me profitable today and hopefully chooses to use me. Can you just imagine all of us in a giant tool box together? God searching for that perfect tool to use and fix a broken heart or life?

Maybe it's you today! Maybe you're the tool of choice. You know that the Bible says... "some plant, some water, but God gives the increase." Like a song that my friend sings, "Lord, let me be the glove in which you place your hand."