How Scripture Profits Us (Part 2)

Paul wrote to Timothy, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).

Last week I wrote about the expression, "All Scripture." This week I consider the term, "profitable for teaching," which is also part of 2 Timothy 3:16.

Profitable for teaching--read Hebrews 5:11-6:2: "Concerning him [Melchizedek] we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washing and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment."

Profitable for teaching--read James 3:1, 13-18: "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that such as we will incur a stricter judgment.... Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing, But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

Profitable for teaching--read 1 John 4:1-6: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error."

Profitable for teaching: read Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Many folks read a chapter of Proverbs each day, every month. Ecclesiastes can be read a chapter a month, for twelve months. James can be read a chapter a day, Monday through Friday.

But we profit from Scripture only according to the time and commitment we put in to reading, studying, and submitting to it.

As I heard recently, we do not sit in judgment of Scripture, Scripture sits in judgment of us.

How Scripture Profits Us

Paul wrote to Timothy, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).

"All Scripture" reminds me of Paul's letter to the Romans: "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (15:4).

"All Scripture" also refers to Paul's first letter to the Corinthians: "Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were, as it is written, 'THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY.' Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written down for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages have come" (10:6-11).

"All Scripture" further reminds me of how the Lord responded when tempted by the devil (Matthew 4)--which is how we ought to respond also. How essential it is that we hide God's Word in our hearts that we might not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11), and when we do sin, know how to respond (1 John 1:9).

Who Are the Least of These His Brothers?

Last week I wrote about a loved one with dementia. This week I want to broaden that topic out.

In Matthew 25:31-46, we see the Son of Man separating the nations, separating people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

What basis is used for determining which category each one is assigned? Sheep are believers, goats, unbelievers. Then the sheep/believers seem to be divided according to how they treated the least among them--the hungry and thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the prisoner. These were people with obvious needs who where in no position to return a favor.

(This reminds me of James 2:1-9: "My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing fine clothes, and say, 'You sit here in a good place,' and you say to the poor man, 'You stand over there or sit by my footstool,' have you not become judges with evil motives? Listen, my beloved brethren, did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called? If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to Scripture, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,' you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.")

These people, needy in one way or another, can become invisible people in our churches.

Isn't it easier to welcome the young and the healthy than to minister to/care for the aged and the less able? Much is lost when churches dismiss the elderly rather than learning from them. The same applies with the disabled/other less-abled.

And there is another group than can all to easily become invisible.

Just consider how quickly widows and orphans and single parents often become lost in any crowd, at church or elsewhere, yet what James 1:27 says applies as long as they are in these positions: "Pure and undefiled religion in  the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

Do any of us give much thought to orphans and widows once their immediate loss passes? Do any of us even call them or send a note to them to let them know we are concerned about them? Do any of us step up to meet their on-going needs? Doing so is "pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father."

When Someone You Love Has Dementia

I have been thinking a lot about this. My mom is 97 and has walked with the Lord for more than 80 years. His will is that she has developed Alzheimer's Disease. While continuing to work full time, my sister Susan has borne the major experience of seeing this development.

What have I been learning as my mom's other daughter?

Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of many truths--"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight"--and thus gives one direction.

James 1:2-5 is also pertinent: "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given him."

Facing my own lack of ability to do anything to change the situation my mom is in, I turn more to the One who can strengthen us all for the long haul.

I learn, painfully, what my limits are--what the limits of any human are; what comfort there is in trusting the One who never changes, who never slumbers nor sleeps, who is always there no matter the time--day or night---who is indeed sufficient for all of life's challenges.

When Dad died unexpectedly 24 years ago, and since, this has become a source of encouragement: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride." Selah. (Psalm 46:1-3).

Isaiah 26:3-4 has become more significant to me recently: "The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock."