Mike Maney

Text: Acts 20:20:

      "And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house"

INTRODUCTION

      If we believe in a life hereafter, and if we believe that the quality of our after-life is contingent upon our personal preparation to receive such an abundant life, then we must seek to be profitable servants unto the Lord.

Profit: Webster's definition; an advantage; gain; financial gain after deducting costs; to benefit.

Here in our text, the apostle Paul tells the elders of Ephesus that he held nothing back that was profitable [NKJ "helpful"] for them insomuchas their ministry goes. He equipped them with the necessary tools with which to feed the assemby there in Ephesus so that they would profit spiritually.
You know, it is so important for a pastor to know what is profitable for a ministry and what is not profitable. Pastors are the leaders of the Lord's flocks; they better have a grip on what is necessary and what is useless in growing a church.
To those men who show their church the Truth, who declare to them "all the counsel of God," there will be a special crown given to them.

"The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." 1 Peter 5:1-4


Jesus also talked about profit;


"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36


Here He presents us with two basic fields in which one may be profitable; the world & one's soul. As a spiritual leader, He too was trying to teach people to recognize what things were profitable to them and what things were not.

WORLDLY PROFIT

We need to be able to recognize what is NOT overall profitable to us.
Proverbs 10:2 - treasures of wickedness profit nothing.
1 Samuel 12:21 - vain things cannot profit nor deliver us.
Isaiah 30:5 - Israel turned to Egypt for help (instead of God).
Jeremiah 2:11 - As a nation, Israel exchanged the real power and actual existance of Jehovah for the non-existing false gods. And they did so being led by their spiritual leaders (Jeremiah 2:8).
Job 21:7-15 - the wicked feel it is useless to seek after God. They are too busy gaining the world, yet will discover one day that they lost their soul.

PROFITING IN ONE'S SOUL

Isaiah 48:17 - God will teach us to profit if we will let Him;


"Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go."


Hebrews 12:10 - God chastens us for our profit so that we will be a partake of His holiness.
2 Timothy 3:16 - The Word of God will teach us what is profitable;


"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

James 2:14 - Faith will profit as it is supported by works.


2 Timothy 4:11 - John Mark became profitable to Paul. All of us should seek to be a profitable servant to God and to one another.

WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE WHAT IS PROFITABLE NO MATTER WHAT OUR MOOD

Genesis 25:32 - Esau said what profit is this birthright to me?
Job 35:3 - Job complained about it not doing any good to live righteously if he was going to suffer such trials anyway.
Malachi 3:14 - Israel asked, "What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance...?"
1 Corinthians 10:33 Paul sought the profit of others so they may be saved.

CONCLUSION