Useful or Useless

Profitable or not profitable? Look up this word in the Bible concordance. Think about it! Test everything you do; test each word that comes out of your mouth in daily life! List everything under one of these two columns, and you will gain life-wisdom that will be useful for yourself first, and then for all those with whom you come into contact!

Whatever is useless is empty and wasted, besides being harmful, for it defiles your fellow men.

“All Scripture is . . . profitable for learning . . . .” 2 Tim. 3:16. “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit . . . .” Isa. 48:17.

Indeed, there we can find everything, as much as we desire! We will find only that which profits us first of all, and then that which is of eternal benefit for all those who hear us, if they really and earnestly desire it. Then we will experience what is written in Acts 18:27: “Who greatly helped those who had believed through God’s grace.” And as it is written in Romans 15:2: “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.” And as it is written in Ephesians 4:29: “But what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

“All things [that are not sinful] are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful.” 1 Cor. 6:12. People usually show an avid interest in everything that is lawful for them without thinking about whether it is useful or not. Then they are still far from seeking perfection, which is precisely what we are called to. Most people don’t even think for a moment about being perfect in anything at all. They lack this noble desire, this noble mind, and at the same time they do not believe in the least that God can and will perform such a work in us. On the contrary, they are convinced that it is impossible— in spite of all the scriptures that say this is exactly what it concerns! People are far more unbelieving than believing!

Now look in the Bible concordance under “perfect” and “perfectly” and become believing, beginning immediately in deadly earnest and with the utmost effort to obtain what you are called to! Do what Paul exhorts us to: Work out the salvation of your soul with fear and trembling! Phil. 2:12.

As far as most people are concerned, it is especially profitable to be radical in stopping the usual flow of words that tumble and pour out of their mouths in daily life, for sin is not lacking in that!

How do you think you will become perfect when you carelessly continue to blabber away? And how much time do you actually take to think about whether each word is profitable? Wake up, dear brother and sister, before it is far too late!

Do not be among those whom it is useless to talk to, those who nod to God’s true Word but are not serious about following it!