I have two verses in mind this morning. One of course being from our Acts 20 Text, Paul’s (last) Sermon to the Ephesian Elders. The other from one of the Apostle’s Pastoral Epistles.

First notice … “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is PROFITABLE.” 2 Timothy 3:16, but only part of the Sentence. (Where “profitable” is an adjective in Greek, “ophelimos,” meaning “advantageous.” It actually derives from a root verb meaning “to heap up, to accumulate. In a good sense.)

Secondly notice Paul speaking to the Ephesians leaders … “And ye know how I kept back nothing that was PROFITABLE unto you.” Here “was profitable” expresses the verb “sumphero,” meaning “bringing together, collecting,” almost that “piling up” idea again! I’ve just directly quoted Acts 20:20, King James Version.

Now here’s my point today … Paul is reminding these Christians at Ephesus that for those three years he spent there with them he was constantly (“night and day”) striving to make them “PROFITABLE” in their lives for Jesus! (Not fruitless, lukewarm professors only!)

And just HOW does a Pastor/Preacher do such a thing? Leave behind him such marked “progress, growth” (profitability) as an attribute to his ministry?

By preaching/teaching/living the WORD OF GOD … which is invariably “PROFITABLE!”

If a leader keeps back nothing that is profitable from his congregation … that automatically means he is sharing with them the (never unprofitable) Word of God!

“All Scripture!”

Tomorrow at Church … be appreciative of that man of God who is giving his life to make you “profitable,” spiritually speaking! Come to think of it, practically speaking as well.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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