2 Timothy 3:16-17 (Profitable)
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
How would you define the word, “profitable?” Would you explain it in financial terms? Most likely you would because profitability is the net result of revenue minus expenses, or rather what is gained vs. what is invested.
However, do we ever think of profitability from a faith perspective? Granted, we’re encouraged to invest our time, energy, and resources to build greater spiritual disciplines into our lives, but are we motivated out of duty (because we have to as Christians) or based on the residual dividends we’ll earn on our strategic investments (what is to be gained)?
“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?’” (Matthew 16:24–26).
The key is looking at our faith journey as a long-term, spiritual investment with a guaranteed (not variable) rate of return. Granted, there are no risks associated with giving our lives to Christ for He paid our ransom and bought our eternal freedom. The only risk is actually NOT accepting His free gift of salvation for the forgiveness of our sins.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).
RETURN ON INVESTMENT:
Just imagine walking into a bank and being told you could open a savings account with an annual percentage rate (APR) of 100%. Undoubtedly, you’d immediately invest every penny you could spare because you’d double your financial investment because of your highly profitable interest rate.
The same principle applies spiritually, except God’s APR is not less than 0.50% like most banks, but INFINITY! It is even greater than winning the lottery because what we profit in the end far exceeds monetary value. It is a priceless gift, free of charge, and should be considered as such with the utmost Godly reverence and respect.
“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28–29).
How then do we guarantee yielding a profit? It all begins with examining what we invest into our spiritual development so we might gain greater perspective regarding the blessings God bestows on those who apply what His Word teaches.
Therefore, consider the following examples which help clarify what potential blessings come to those who obey Scripture unconditionally and discipline themselves to seek after righteousness.
If I seek discernment from God’s Word (investment), I gain understanding (profit).
If I repent of my sins to God and others (investment), I gain forgiveness and reconciliation (profit).
If I make a public profession of faith in Christ (investment), I gain salvation (profit).
If I learn from my mistakes and change my ways (investment), I gain wisdom (profit).
If I love my wife as Christ loved the church (investment), I gain fruit of the Spirit (profit).
If I keep no secrets from my wife (investment), I gain trust (profit).
If I share my struggles with my family (investment), I gain prayer and accountability (profit).
If I live with moral integrity (investment), I gain respect from others (profit).
If I resist temptations to sin (investment), I gain peace of mind (profit).
“The work of discipling occurs in the present, but it has its eyes set on the Last Day. It requires long-term thinking. It requires an investor’s mentality, knowing that the return is eternal. And the investment occurs through God’s Word. We must proclaim God’s Word is the seed that ultimately bears fruit, even if we don’t see it in the short term…trust that God’s Word does not return void. You will see the harvest later.”
EDUCATION:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 becomes infinitely profitable when we discipline our minds to accept and receive God’s absolute truth with teachable hearts which are patient, humble, and welcome accountability.
For no man who stands before Almighty God with pride in his heart will receive the gift of righteousness He has in store for him. Rather, he will merely store up wrath for himself on the day of judgment because he was unwilling to lay down his pride at the foot of the cross.
“Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished” (Proverbs 16:5).
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).
Many self-proclaimed Christians find themselves face to face with the paradox of reconciling their pre-conversion vs. post-conversion identities, yet fail to realize the struggles they continue to endure are more a result of trying to put a square peg (old self) into a round hole (new self) than anything else.
In other words, when we place faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sins and accept His free gift of salvation, we are no longer held captive by our past. We’ve been set free! Our sins are washed away! We have new life, and therefore a new personal identity in Christ forevermore.
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9–11).
Why then would we ever return to the sins which formerly enslaved us unless we’re trying to steer our ship without a compass to guide our way? Do we not realize we’re hopelessly lost without God’s Word to illuminate our path toward righteousness?
Truthfully, most Christians just drift along in their faith only to be consumed by the sea of relative truth when storms blow in from across the horizon. If only we would realize that God has equipped us with everything we need to survive, perhaps new life in Christ wouldn’t seem like such a struggle at times.
However, the remedy to our problems is quite simple. Open our Bibles, turn the pages, and begin reading what God has to say, because He inspired its composition so that we don’t have to live another day without His infinite knowledge and wisdom to guide our path.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
DIVINE INSPIRATION:
Where the rubber meets the road is whether we truly believe God’s Word is true. Paul wrote, “All Scripture is breathed out by God,” which means we each have an important decision to make whether we realize it or not.
The question is this: Do I believe the Bible is 100% absolute truth, cover to cover, and will I entrust my life and embrace its holiness (100% righteous and pure), inerrancy (without fault), and infallibility (will never fail) as my personal faith doctrine?
Outside of asking, “What must I do to be saved?” that is arguably the most pivotal, life-changing question each one of us must answer, sooner rather than later. For if we doubt or distrust even one verse of Scripture, then in theory, it cannot be trusted as absolute truth because we’ve chosen to believe it can be refuted as false doctrine.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:5–6).
Whether Scripture is inerrant and infallible is an “all or nothing” decision we must personally reconcile, because there is no 99.99% option which allows us to pick and choose what is true or not. Therefore, faith and trust in God’s Word is a package deal for those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ because it is the foundation of our personal doctrine as believers. Anything less undermines one’s entire faith.
“We are to believe and follow Christ in all things, including His words about Scripture. And this means that Scripture is to be for us what it was to Him: the unique, authoritative, and inerrant Word of God, and not merely a human testimony to Christ, however carefully guided and preserved by God. If the Bible is less than this to us, we are not fully Christ’s disciples.”
BOTTOM-LINE:
Assuming we affirm and believe the Bible is absolute truth, applying what it teaches and defending its position on issues of morality, in particular, becomes easier. No longer are we stating our own opinion, but simply endorsing what God has to say.
For when our personal doctrine mirrors God’s Word, we are removed from direct attack and persecution for our beliefs. No longer are we at war with society, but rather culture is directly in opposition to the Creator of the universe who is sovereign over all.
Make no mistake, that one truth is incredibly profound and completely life-changing! It allows us to make judgment calls on sinful behavior without feeling personally attacked, because the Lord is our strength and our shield and He will defend and protect those who stand unashamed of His Word.
“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32–33).
Bottom-line, no matter our circumstances, we can rest assured in the sufficiency of Scripture to not only teach, reproof, and correct our personal behavior, but to equip us for whatever trials lie ahead. For no matter what the enemy throws our way, we are safe and secure to accomplish His will because He is ultimately in control, not us.
“No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD” (Isaiah 54:17).
