Definition and Context:
Disuse refers to the neglect or lack of use of something, leading to its deterioration or ineffectiveness. In a biblical context, disuse can apply to spiritual gifts, talents, or responsibilities that are not actively employed or developed. The concept of disuse is often associated with warnings against spiritual complacency and the encouragement to actively engage in one's faith and God-given abilities.

Biblical References and Themes:

1. Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30):
This parable illustrates the consequences of disuse through the account of a servant who, out of fear, buried his talent instead of investing it. The master rebukes the servant for his inactivity, saying, "You wicked, lazy servant!" (Matthew 25:26). The unused talent is taken from him and given to the one who had ten talents, emphasizing the principle that what is not used can be lost.

2. Spiritual Gifts (1 Timothy 4:14):
Paul advises Timothy, "Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the elders" (1 Timothy 4:14). This exhortation highlights the importance of actively using and developing spiritual gifts rather than allowing them to fall into disuse.

3. Faith and Works (James 2:14-26):
James emphasizes that faith without works is dead, suggesting that a faith not put into practice is ineffective and akin to disuse. "So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead" (James 2:17). This passage underscores the necessity of active engagement in one's faith.

4. Warning Against Complacency (Revelation 3:15-16):
In the message to the church in Laodicea, the risen Christ warns against lukewarmness, a form of spiritual disuse: "I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other! So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth" (Revelation 3:15-16). This serves as a stark warning against spiritual inactivity and complacency.

5. Encouragement to Persevere (Hebrews 12:1-2):
The author of Hebrews encourages believers to "run with endurance the race set out for us" (Hebrews 12:1), urging them to actively pursue their spiritual journey and not fall into disuse. This metaphor of a race implies continuous effort and engagement.

Theological Implications:
Disuse in a biblical sense often leads to spiritual stagnation and missed opportunities for growth and service. The Bible consistently encourages believers to be active stewards of their gifts and responsibilities, warning that neglect can lead to spiritual decline. The call to vigilance and active participation in one's faith is a recurring theme, urging believers to avoid the pitfalls of disuse and to remain diligent in their spiritual walk.1. (v. t.) To cease to use; to discontinue the practice of.

2. (v. t.) To disaccustom; -- with to or from; as, disused to toil.

3. (n.) Cessation of use, practice, or exercise; inusitation; desuetude; as, the limbs lose their strength by disuse.

Capacity Extirpated by Disuse
... LV CAPACITY EXTIRPATED BY DISUSE. ... The gift is lost by the lack of exercise, or as
Horace Bushnell stated the principle, the "capacity is extirpated by disuse.". ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/lv capacity extirpated by disuse.htm

Death by Disuse
... CHAPTER XIII Death by Disuse. "There is a strong ... within them? Was the soul
God gave them dead""sentenced to death by disuse"? Dead they ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter xiii death by disuse.htm

Synopsis. --Account to be Made of the Law of Atrophy through ...
... VII SYNOPSIS."Account to be made of the law of atrophy through disuse."
The virgin birth and the corporeal resurrection of Jesus. ...
/.../whiton/miracles and supernatural religion/vii synopsis account to be made.htm

Nouns, 1-14
... GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK. ACCIDENCE NOUNS, 1-14. 1. Disuse of the Dual. The
Greek of the LXX has two numbrs, the singular and the plural. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/conybeare/a grammar of septuagint greek/nouns 14-jan.htm

Of the Mortification of Our Natural Inclination to Liberty or ...
... 6. We may reasonably impute to the disuse of this obligation the great decay of
religious discipline and perfection in the world; because now, generally ...
/.../chapter xiv of the mortification.htm

What Good Does it do Me that He Declares on his Oath that it was ...
... "I had grown dull in my Latinity through the disuse of nearly 30 years." c3. ... "I had
grown dull in my Latinity through the disuse of nearly 30 years." c3. ...
/.../2 what good does it.htm

An Address to the Man who is Down
... How has man evolved past the animal and the savage, and how has so much
that is in them passed away from him? By mere disuse. And ...
/.../stones rolled away and other addresses to young men/ii an address to the.htm

Traders for the Master
... We do not need to wait for eternity to see that true possession, which is use,
increases powers, and that disuse, which is equivalent to not possessing, robs ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/traders for the master.htm

Mornings in the College Chapel
... LIII THE AVERAGE MAN. LIV THE OVERCOMING OF INSIGNIFICANCE. LV CAPACITY EXTIRPATED
BY DISUSE. LVI THE PARABLE OF THE VACUUM. LVII CHRISTIANITY AND BUSINESS. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/peabody/mornings in the college chapel/

Miracles and Supernatural Religion
... VII SYNOPSIS.--Account to be made of the law of atrophy through
disuse.--The virgin birth and the corporeal resurrection of Jesus. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/whiton/miracles and supernatural religion/

Disuse (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (n.) Cessation of use, practice, or exercise; inusitation; desuetude; as,
the limbs lose their strength by disuse. ...Disuse (1 Occurrence). ...
/d/disuse.htm - 7k

Ditch (9 Occurrences)

/d/ditch.htm - 10k

Oracle (57 Occurrences)
... seems to indicate that at an early period oracular utterances were sought from Yahweh
by the Israelites, but the practice certainly fell into disuse at the ...
/o/oracle.htm - 26k

Jew (34 Occurrences)
... Originally this people were called Hebrews (Genesis 39:14; 40:15; Exodus 2:7;
3:18; 5:3; 1 Samuel 4:6, 9, etc.), but after the Exile this name fell into disuse...
/j/jew.htm - 22k

Intermission (2 Occurrences)
... ten minutes. 2. (n.) The act or the state of intermitting; the state of
being neglected or disused; disuse; discontinuance. 3. (n ...
/i/intermission.htm - 7k

Friend (139 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) One of a religious sect characterized by disuse of outward rites and an
ordained ministry, by simplicity of dress and speech, and esp. ...
/f/friend.htm - 40k

Revive (31 Occurrences)
... after a suspension. 6. (vi) Hence, to recover from a state of neglect or
disuse; as, to revive letters or learning. 7. (vi) To renew ...
/r/revive.htm - 18k

Disunion (1 Occurrence)

/d/disunion.htm - 7k

Disannul (3 Occurrences)
... is expressed by akuroo, "to invalidate," "disannul," "make of no effect." Atheteo
is employed to express also the disannulling through age and disuse (Hebrews 7 ...
/d/disannul.htm - 9k

Mysia (2 Occurrences)
... When Mysia became a part of the Roman province of Asia in 190 BC, its old name fell
into disuse, and it was then generally known as the Hellespontus. ...
/m/mysia.htm - 8k

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