Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service

The Profit and Loss of God’s People

Job 22:1-2 KJV

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

I’m not a fan of Eliphaz the Temanite, after all, when our man Job was down as low as he could get, Eliphaz was one of the three not so encouraging friends who came to tell Job to get his heart right and his life would get better. Who needs a friend like that? But how many of us don’t have one. I’ll not name names. They likely don’t read my blog anyway, because I’m sure my grammar is just ghastly and upsets their psyche. But as for Eliphaz, he did have a great question. One he likely should have looked in the mirror and asked, “Am I profitable to God.”

First of all, what would God look upon as profit, He who owns the universe? 

Samuel told the people of God in 1 Samuel 12:20-21

And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

That’s a good word for all of us! It is so easy to turn away from God to something that catches our eye and looks “profitable” but ends up being little more than a distraction, if not a great waster of time and money. Oh good grief, am I preaching to myself alone? It’s true. I need that “one more thing” from Amazon to make my life complete but then after that is “one more thing.” And before long I have no profit to give to God, only debt. So back to my 2nd question, What does God look upon as profit? 

Wisdom is Profitable

Ecclesiastes 7:11 KJV 

Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.

For me the definition of wisdom, in the “dictionary of Shari” is “intelligence wrought with insight.” Deep right? Maybe not. But what I mean by that is wisdom goes further just what we learn. It’s the application of intelligence that is profitable. Okay… maybe that should be definition 2 in the dictionary of Shari. Knowing something isn’t wisdom unless it applied properly. Someone can have the intelligence to invent something amazing, but unless they have the wisdom on how to use it for good, then it’s not wisdom. For example, Bill Gates. A man of great intelligent with regard to the computer world, but right now he’s not using that with wisdom. He’s using it for evil. He’s a “ga-jillionaire” but what is his purpose in eternity? 

While the widow, who knows nothing of cyber land, but receives a small pension from her husband, and tithes it into the collection plate at church, allowing for extra for the missionaries, is highly profitable in eternity. 

Proverbs:10:2

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.

Isaiah 48:17

Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teachers thee to profit, with leaders thee by the way that thou shoudest go. 

God has not problem with His children profiting in life, but He wants that profit to have godly purpose.

The Word is Profitable

Acts 20:20-21 KJV

And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Just going through these scriptures this morning I realize that I do not profit in the word of God nearly as much as I should. Every time I read scripture my heart overflows with blessing. Far greater than the blessing of any Amazon order arriving on the door step. Because I know that the wisdom that I am awarded for my effort, and will hopefully share with those I come into contact with will lay up for me rewards in Heaven. I’ll have those stars in my crown that are so often sung about. 

But not without using the word with godly wisdom. Studying to show myself approved and applying that wisdom to my life. Then I have gifts 🎁 🎁  🎁 for the King!

1 Timothy 4:8

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 

The Woodshed is Profitable

2 Timothy 3:16

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

I’m no more of a fan of the woodshed than I am Eliphaz. It’s not a good time when you feel the Spirit of God chastising you for wrong doing. But it’s profitable. Else I’d make the same mistake again. But we live in a world where no body wants to get their little feelings hurt… myself included. But I have first hand seen the damage that causes not only in my own life but in the lives of families who choose not to discipline their children or accept godly preaching on behavior. 

When I see those nutcase children screaming into a camera and posting it on social media for all the world to see my first thought is “Your parents must have disciplined you with cupcakes and rainbow sprinkles. The woodshed may hurt temporarily but the outcome is of great reward. 

Good Works are Profitable

Titus 3:8

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. Theses things are good and profitable unto men.

While good works will not save you, they don’t go un-noticed by God. And while I’m not sure what the stars in our crown will be awarded for, I do know who we’ll have the opportunity to award them to, and that would be the Savior! I want that profit! I don’t want to stand before my Savior, Who gave it all for me, and have nothing to give Him in return. I want to be a part of the celebration on that glorious day in Heaven when we stand before the King and He says well done! And then I want to lay that crown down at His feet like the woman with the alabaster box. I want to kiss His feet and thank Him for all He’s done in my life!

This World Is Not Profitable

Mark 8:36

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

If you owned it all, and lose your soul by failing to accept the price that Jesus Christ paid for you to be in Eternity with Him for ever, you’ll burn up in the final days and live in Hell for eternity. If you do not know what it means to know Christ as Savior and Lord, please, contact me or a bible believing preacher, and it’s sad to say, that’s not every preacher. Remember what I said about there being a difference between wisdom and intelligence. There’s a lot of smart preacher out there who don’t have wisdom. They’ve bought the lies of the world as well. If you’re unsure of who to turn to, message me, and I’ll find you a preacher in your area. But don’t miss out on the greatest of all blessings!!!! 

Posted in Bible Journaling, Grace, Life Inspiration, salvation

Washed in Mercy

wash

Titus 3:5

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

We are blessed to live in a nation where clean water is readily available to most, and it is for certain something that we take for granted. I was in the Philippines to sing at a conference about 11 years ago and my first shower in a home in the Philippines, which did have running water, but to shower there was a plastic cup that hung on the wall from a cold water only tap. You realize how very spoiled you are. It’s that spoiling that causes us to miss the blessings of salvation.

I want stuff. And the Lord says “You have stuff, you need Me.” I need more of the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life. This morning I was whining to the Lord about wanting something for my husband. He works so hard, he asks for so little. So when something comes up that he’d like, it hurts me that it’s not within his grasp. And while the Lord didn’t mind that I was whining for someone else for a change, it brought me back to that spigot in the wall, and a pipe sticking up out of the floor that was the toilet, and how blessed I was to be there. Because there in that city where many of the people had nothing materialistic in comparison to me, they had what I longed for and it cost nothing… the Presence of God.

While salvation was instantaneous upon the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord, my relationship with God is dependent on the time I spend in His Word and in His presence. As a friend once said “The Word of God is a spiritual warsh cloth.”

“Warsh” is the word “wash” spelled as he pronounced it. That’s an important piece of his story because he was raised poor and when he became wealthy, he didn’t forget where he came from. He glorified God and kept his humility.

When Paul wrote to Titus in chapter 3 he reminded him not to “get above his raisin.” Not to forget where he came from. The presence of God in our life, through the preaching and reading of His word is a cleansing. As I read the word this morning I was not only reminded that I can live better, but I was reminded of the fact that I can’t live good enough when it comes to obtaining the presence of God in my life. That only comes by and through His grace and mercy. I can’t earn stuff with God and I cannot earn His unmerited favor.

Praise God for that regeneration (the spiritual change) within me that gave me a new life, a new hope, and leaves my soul as clean as newborn baby in the eyes of God. Oh… I struggle. I fall and fail and muddy myself with the world around me. But He is faithful to scrub me back up!  Hallelujah!