The Danger of Spiritual Uselessness

Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 15:1-8

"Son of man, how is the wood of a vine better than that of a branch on any of the trees in the forest? Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful?" – Ezekiel 15:2-3 (NIV)

Introduction

In Ezekiel 15, God uses a striking comparison to describe Jerusalem: He likens the city to a vine that is of no use except to be burned. Unlike other trees that can provide strong wood for construction, a vine is only valuable when it bears fruit. If it fails to do so, it becomes worthless and is thrown into the fire. This passage serves as a warning to believers about the danger of spiritual uselessness.

A Vine Without Fruit is Worthless

Vines are cultivated for one purpose—producing grapes. If they fail in this, they serve no other function. In the same way, God expects His people to live fruitful lives, demonstrating faith, love, and righteousness. Jesus reinforces this idea in John 15:6:
"If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned."

As Christians, our purpose is to glorify God through our words, actions, and faithfulness. If we do not bear fruit, we risk becoming spiritually ineffective and separated from Him.

The Danger of Being Useless in God’s Kingdom

God created us with a purpose, and when we neglect that purpose, we become spiritually stagnant. Spiritual uselessness happens when we:

• Stop growing in our relationship with God.
• Ignore His commandments and live according to our desires.
• Fail to love and serve others as Christ commanded.
• Become indifferent to sin and ignore the Holy Spirit’s conviction.

When Israel abandoned God and became corrupt, they lost their value in His eyes, leading to destruction. Likewise, if we turn away from Him, we risk becoming spiritually lifeless.

God’s Call to Spiritual Fruitfulness

The good news is that God does not desire to cast us away. He wants us to repent and become fruitful. In John 15:4-5, Jesus reminds us that we can only bear fruit by remaining in Him:
"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."

Remaining in Christ means:

• Spending time in His Word and prayer.
• Allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts.
• Serving and loving others with sincerity.
• Living a life that reflects Christ’s character.

Conclusion

Ezekiel 15 is a sobering reminder that being spiritually useless leads to destruction. God has called us to bear fruit and be vessels of His glory. Are you producing fruit for the Kingdom, or have you become complacent? Today, ask God to help you stay connected to Him so that you can be a fruitful and useful servant in His hands.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I do not want to be spiritually useless. Help me to stay connected to You and live a life that bears fruit for Your kingdom. Remove any complacency or disobedience from my heart and fill me with a passion for serving You. In Jesus' name, Amen.