Issue 019: I’m Okay With Being Used
But, there’s a difference between being used and being misused.
Welcome or Welcome back.
This might sound controversial at first but hear me out …
I’m Okay With Being Used
A couple of weeks ago, I was talking to a family friend about business, relationships, and just life in general—how we grow, how we position ourselves for bigger opportunities, and how we align with purpose. In that conversation, he said something that stuck with me:
"You're not dumb or naive by any means, but you're okay with being used."
At first, I wasn’t sure how to take that. But as he explained, I realized he was speaking about how I operate in business and life—I don’t have an issue playing the background, using my strengths to contribute to a bigger picture, even if there’s no instant gratification for me. I never thought about it that way before, but honestly, that is my nature. And this morning, that conversation resurfaced in my mind with a new layer of understanding:
God gave us all gifts, and what use are we if we cannot be used?
Now, I know how that sounds. In a world that constantly warns us about people taking advantage of us, the idea of being "used" has a negative connotation. But the reality is, we were created to be used—by God. The real question is: who or what are we allowing to use us?
The Biblical Perspective on Being Used
Scripture makes it clear that our gifts aren’t meant for us to hoard or sit on. They're meant to be used in service, for the good of others, and ultimately for the glory of God.
The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) – Jesus tells the story of three servants entrusted with talents (a form of currency, but also symbolic of gifts and abilities). The first two invested what they were given, multiplying their impact, while the third buried his, out of fear, and ultimately lost it. The lesson? What we’re given is meant to be used and multiplied, not hidden away.
1 Peter 4:10 – "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." Our gifts were never meant to be for us alone. We are stewards of them, responsible for how we use them to serve.
Romans 12:6-8 – Paul reminds us that we all have different gifts—prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading—and we should use them according to the grace given to us.
I used to think of my ability to play the background, support others, and contribute to a bigger vision as just how I am. But now I see it as a form of stewardship. If my strengths—whether in creativity, strategy, or execution—can be used to further something bigger than me, especially when it aligns with God’s work, why wouldn’t I want to be used in that way?
The Boundary: Who’s Using You?
Of course, there’s a difference between being used and being misused. That’s where discernment comes in. Jesus himself was a servant (Matthew 20:28), but He never let people manipulate or drain Him outside of the Father’s will. Being used for God’s purpose isn’t the same as being drained by people who only want to take.
So, the key isn’t to resist being used—it’s to align ourselves with people, projects, and purposes that honor the gifts God has given us. For me, that means making sure the work I pour into aligns with impact, not just income. That it builds the kingdom, not just clout. That it serves God’s people, not just my personal ambitions.
I want my gifts to be used. I want to be useful. I want to hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” And if that means playing the background, pouring into others, and building something bigger than myself—so be it.
I’m okay with being used.
Stay blessed, stay creative, and stay aligned!
All is well,
Ashlee
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