In my last post we have seen that not all interesting things are profitable. Actually it could be argued that most of them are rather futile and some deleterious. Be that as it may, we are often attracted by the worthless and find ourselves putting roots in the barren soil as if it would be the normal thing to do. Thus hypnotized by these temporal futilities our spiritual acumen enters a slumberous mood, which in turn leads to an anemic state. Before long, our spiritual life manifests anorexic symptoms and there we are, amused by the flotsam and jetsam of modern creativity.
God’s desire
We read in Isaiah 48:17, “I am the Lord you God, Who teaches you to profit”. Surely God is not only able to discern between the profitable and the detrimental, He also longs to impart this knowledge to His children. This divine yearning should motivate us to purify our heart, for only thus shall we perceive the instructions of Wisdom and attain to the knowledge of the Holy.
What is profitable?
I agree with Aeschylus when he writes, “The one knowing what is profitable, and not the man knowing many things, is wise.” After all, how can a person makes profit if he doesn’t know what is profitable?
In monetary terms the word “profit” is thus defined:
The excess of returns over expenditure in a transaction or series of transactions; especially: the excess of the selling price of goods over their cost” (Merriam-Webster).
Hence the profit a person makes is not the total sum of what he gets. What he has originally invested must be deduced from that sum.
If a person working in the chicken industry advertises his product and sold six percent more chicken than the year before, for an increase of 12.000 Euros on sale, did he gain anything? The answer depends of how much he invested on advertisement. If he invested less than 12.000 Euros the advertising was profitable, if he invested more it was not. Of course the investment might become profitable only after a few years. In brief, several things must be considered when judging if something is profitable.
But what about the spiritual?
Spiritually speaking the concept is the same. Understanding the principle, the apostle Paul writes:
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Cor. 6:12 YLT).
It is profoundly important to understand that not all which is lawful is profitable. To adopt ‘lawfulness’ as the only criterion of evaluation is scripturally unsound. Unfortunately, it is by far the most popular gauge of estimation used among evangelicals today. “It is not sin” we are told. Thus the useless is canonized while the profitable is nearly eclipsed by worthless soap bubbles on the pretext they are lawful bubbles.
The deceitfulness of apparent gain
A long time ago the Master asked an important question: “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Here again the principle confronts us. Actually the question generates such offspring as: What profit is it to a man if he has three hundred friends on Facebook and fails to progress spiritually? Or: What profit is it to a man to get physically fit if his spiritual life is falling apart? Ultimately the real question is: How much do we crave for spiritual progress?
Talking to the people of Israel the prophet Samuel said:
And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing” (1 Samuel 12:21).
These words declare plainly that the going after empty things is the inevitable result of turning aside from the Lord. For many evangelicals this should not sound too good, for one does not need to be a prophet to realize that the going-after-empty-things is on the increase and gaining popularity in several evangelical milieus. As a matter of fact, empty things are often welcome as part of our liturgy to entertain those who can hardly perceive spiritual reality.
Could it be some of us are following the Lord afar off as Peter did from Gethsemane to the high priest’s courtyard (Matthew 26:58 KJV)? I know this kind of question is considered unedifying by some since it provokes disturbing thoughts. But there are critical questions carrying life in their bosom as there are sour medications assisting our health. For instance, Paul asked the Corinthians: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5). This question is surely disturbing for some but highly profitable.
The legacy of spiritual myopia
There are two evils having the ability to affect us detrimentally. The first one is caused by spiritual myopia, i.e., by the inability to discern profitable entities yielding benefit on a long-term investment. Possibly the most famous example of such constricted vision is found in the words Esau spoke to Jacob in Genesis 25:32: “Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?” (KJV). Another relevant example is found in the book of Job: “Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?” (Job 21:15).
Some of the most profitable practices bring an increase only after a significant period of time. Such scriptures as: “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days” (Ecclesiastes 11:1) are testifying that the person who trusts God at the point of acting accordingly shall reap in due time if he faints not (Galatians 6:9). For as the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth; waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain (James 5:7), the person able to see afar off will be unmoved by the timetable (2 Peter 2:9).
The rush of modern days, together with the thirst for instant results, has proved little productive. James’ reminder is highly relevant, “Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:4).
Undermining the profitable
There are also practices assured to produce an increase when done according to the rules, but if done otherwise no results ensue and the effort becomes futile and meaningless. The apostle Paul makes allusion to such unprofitable practices when he writes: “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3). To do the right thing is not always sufficient. It must be done according to the rules.
The same thing is seen in the epistle to the Hebrews:
For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it” Hebrews 4:2.
Here what has been greatly profitable to some is rendered useless for others. We are also reminded that praying to the true and living God can be as unprofitable as praying to Baal: “One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination” (Proverbs 28:9).
Paul’s reminder is particularly pertinent: “And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Timothy 2:5). This principle should be grasped with both hands and should motivate us to learn the rules diligently.
May God grant us the wisdom needed, for as the ecclesiast affirms: “Wisdom is good with an inheritance, and profitable to those who see the sun” (Ecclesiastes 7:11). Only on this solid cornerstone can profit be reached.
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