The term "unused" in a biblical context often refers to resources, talents, or opportunities that are not utilized for their intended purpose. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings that emphasize the importance of using what God has given us for His glory and the benefit of others.

Parable of the Talents

One of the most direct teachings on the subject of unused resources is found in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). In this parable, a master entrusts his servants with varying amounts of money (talents) before going on a journey. Upon his return, he finds that two of the servants have invested and doubled their amounts, while the third servant, out of fear, buried his talent and returned it unused. The master rebukes the third servant, calling him "wicked and lazy" (Matthew 25:26), and takes the unused talent away, giving it to the servant who had ten talents. This parable illustrates the expectation that believers should actively use their God-given gifts and opportunities to produce spiritual fruit.

Spiritual Gifts

The Apostle Paul, in his letters, frequently addresses the use of spiritual gifts within the church. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul explains that each believer is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7). He emphasizes that these gifts are to be used in service to one another, building up the body of Christ. An unused spiritual gift is a missed opportunity to contribute to the growth and edification of the church.

The Example of the Fig Tree

In Mark 11:12-14, Jesus encounters a fig tree that, despite being in leaf, bears no fruit. He curses the tree, and it withers. This incident serves as a metaphor for the nation of Israel and, by extension, for individuals who fail to produce spiritual fruit. The unused potential of the fig tree results in its destruction, highlighting the expectation that believers should bear fruit in keeping with repentance and faith.

The Call to Diligence

Proverbs frequently contrasts the diligent with the slothful, underscoring the value of using one's resources and time wisely. Proverbs 12:27 states, "A lazy man does not roast his game, but a diligent man prizes his possession" . This proverb suggests that failing to utilize what one has is akin to wastefulness, while diligence is commended as a virtue.

The Warning Against Complacency

The church in Laodicea is admonished in Revelation 3:15-16 for being "lukewarm," neither hot nor cold. This state of complacency and ineffectiveness is met with a stern warning from Christ, who desires fervency and active engagement in faith. The unused zeal and potential of the Laodicean church serve as a cautionary example for all believers.

Conclusion

The biblical narrative consistently encourages the active use of one's gifts, resources, and opportunities. Whether through parables, teachings on spiritual gifts, or warnings against complacency, Scripture calls believers to be faithful stewards of what they have been given, ensuring that nothing remains unused in the service of God's kingdom.1. (a.) Not used; as, an unused book; an unused apartment.

2. (a.) Not habituated; unaccustomed.

2537. kainos -- new, fresh
... new, fresh. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: kainos Phonetic Spelling:
(kahee-nos') Short Definition: fresh, new Definition: fresh, new, unused, novel ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2537.htm - 7k3892. lach -- moist, fresh, new
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition moist, fresh, new NASB Word Usage
fresh (4), green (2). green, moist. From an unused root ...
/hebrew/3892.htm - 5k

8064. shamayim -- heaven, sky
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition heaven, sky NASB Word Usage astrologers*
(1), compass (1), earth (1), heaven (191), heaven and the highest (2 ...
/hebrew/8064.htm - 6k

5220. neked -- progeny, posterity
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition progeny, posterity NASB Word
Usage posterity (3). nephew, son's son. From an unused root ...
/hebrew/5220.htm - 5k

5845. atin -- probably a pail, bucket
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition probably a pail, bucket NASB
Word Usage sides (1). breast. From an unused root meaning ...
/hebrew/5845.htm - 6k

5553. sela -- a crag, cliff
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a crag, cliff NASB Word Usage cliff
(4), cliffs (4), crag (2), crags (3), mountain* (1), Rock (1), rock (39), rocks ...
/hebrew/5553.htm - 6k

6380. Pokereth Hatstsebayim -- "bindress of the gazelles," head of ...
... Word Origin from an unused word and tsebi Definition "bindress of the gazelles,"
head of a postexilic family NASB Word Usage Pochereth-hazzebaim (2). ...
/hebrew/6380.htm - 6k

5161. Nechelami -- descriptive title for a false prophet
... Word Origin from an unused name Definition descriptive title for a false prophet
NASB Word Usage Nehelamite (3). Nehelamite. Apparently ...
/hebrew/5161.htm - 6k

6365. pid -- ruin, disaster
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition ruin, disaster NASB Word Usage calamity
(1), disaster (1), extinction (1), ruin (1). destruction, ruin. ...
/hebrew/6365.htm - 6k

6352. pecham -- coal
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition coal NASB Word Usage charcoal
(1), coals (2). coals. Perhaps from an unused root probably ...
/hebrew/6352.htm - 5k

5693. agur -- (a kind of bird) perhaps a crane
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition (a kind of bird) perhaps a crane
NASB Word Usage crane (1), thrush (1). swallow. Passive ...
/hebrew/5693.htm - 6k

The Will.
... This is faint-heartedness and cowardice, ignobleness and unmanliness. Every faculty
of the body or soul that is unused or unexercised will weaken and die. ...
/.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/the will.htm

'Fragments' or 'Broken Pieces'
... But the true notion is that the 'broken pieces which remain over' are the unused
portions into which our Lord's miracle-working hand had broken the bread, and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/fragments or broken pieces.htm

Of Sloth
... on the fire, expecting thy neighbour to come and fill it." And in like manner the
good God will not have thee to leave any grace empty and unused; because he ...
/.../ugolino/the little flowers of st francis of assisi/chapter vi of sloth.htm

The Sack of Rome
... They had got so unused to them! ... Only a lazy populace remained behind the walls,
unused to arms, and still more enfeebled by long starvation. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/i the sack of rome.htm

'To Him that Hath Shall be Given'
... to do in making men what they are. What you use you increase, what you
leave unused you lose. There are grey heads in my present ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/to him that hath shall.htm

The World's Bread
... All four Gospels tell the command to gather up the 'broken pieces' (not the fragments
left by the eaters, but the unused pieces broken by Christ). ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the worlds bread.htm

The Story of a Cup of Water
... He will not drink the water, but pours it out unto the Lord, and lets it sink into
the ground unused, and, because unused, a sort of sacrifice and offering to ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the story of a cup.htm

The Spirit of Power
... His power. The use of our power increases our power. Joash had an unused
quiver full of arrows, and he only smote thrice. 'To him ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the spirit of power.htm

Introductory Notice to the Early Liturgies.
... with the work of Brett and others like-minded that we have in these Edinburgh
translations a reflection from the minds of divines who are unused to liturgies ...
/.../various/early liturgies/introductory notice to the early.htm

Thoughts on Mind and on Style
... from principles known to them; and intuitive minds would be mathematical if they
could turn their eyes to the principles of mathematics to which they are unused ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pascal/pensees/section i thoughts on mind.htm

Unused (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Not used; as, an unused book; an unused
apartment. ... Multi-Version Concordance Unused (4 Occurrences). ...
/u/unused.htm - 7k

Undergone (20 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 31:18 Certainly Ephraim's words of grief have come to my ears, You have
given me training and I have undergone it like a young cow unused to the yoke ...
/u/undergone.htm - 12k

Untying (5 Occurrences)

/u/untying.htm - 7k

Unwonted (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Not wonted; unaccustomed; unused; not made
familiar by practice; as, a child unwonted to strangers. ...
/u/unwonted.htm - 7k

Unusual (4 Occurrences)

/u/unusual.htm - 7k

Unaccustomed (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Not used; not habituated; unfamiliar; unused; --
which to. 2. (a.) Not usual; uncommon; strange; new. ...
/u/unaccustomed.htm - 7k

Original (6 Occurrences)
... original genius. 4. (a.) Before unused or unknown; new; as, a book full
of original matter. 5. (n.) Origin; commencement; source. 6 ...
/o/original.htm - 9k

Grieving (12 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 31:18 Certainly Ephraim's words of grief have come to my ears, You have
given me training and I have undergone it like a young cow unused to the yoke ...
/g/grieving.htm - 10k

Waste (668 Occurrences)
... gloomy; cheerless. 2. (a.) Lying unused; unproductive; worthless; valueless;
refuse; rejected; as, waste land; waste paper. 3. (a ...
/w/waste.htm - 37k

Ephraim's (14 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 31:18 Certainly Ephraim's words of grief have come to my ears, You have
given me training and I have undergone it like a young cow unused to the yoke ...
/e/ephraim's.htm - 10k

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Unused: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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