That Which Doth Not Profit
Hundreds of years ago, the weeping prophet, cried out the word of the Lord in the ears of God’s people, “Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit” (Jer. 2:11). Many today have changed their glory for that which is worthless.
1. Non-Profit Gods. Like the nation of Israel, some have changed the glory of GOD by being “. . . carried away unto these dumb idols” (1 Cor. 12:2). Many have allowed “the god of this world” to blind their minds” (2 Cor. 4:4). To serve false gods is but to change glory for the worthless.
2. Non-Profit Words. Paul’s charge to Timothy was to remind the brethren, “. . . that they strive not about words to no profit” (2 Tim. 2:14) . Some are not content to just teach the word of God but are given to “. . . fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying” (1 Tim. 1:4). We must not “give heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth” (Tit. 1:14) .
3. Non-Profit Preaching. Some preaching does not profit. The Hebrew writer said, “. . . but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it” (Heb. 4:2). You see, this is so, because, “ But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6). Unbelieved preaching is not very profitable for the hearer.
4. Non-Profit Faith. James asked, “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him” (Jas. 2:14)? Can the kind of faith which produces no action save? Take the time to read the illustrations of James to understand that “. . . faith without works is dead” (Jas. 2:15-26).
Checked what’s profitable lately?
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Truth
Magazine Vol. XLV: 3 p8
February 1,
2001