14 All in Verses for MenSample

Are you looking for a guaranteed profit?

This is Vince Miller.

Our text today is from 2 Timothy 3:16. It reads:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. — 2 Timothy 3:16

Paul gives us two unforgettable images that emphasize the importance and profit of Scripture.

First, he declares that Scripture is the breath of God. With this, we hear him emphasize the life-giving importance that God has in connection with all humanity. As God breathed into man's nostrils to give him life at the beginning of time (Genesis 2:7), so humanity is sustained by the breath that comes from his mouth found in Scripture. The connection and imagery are unforgettable. God gives physical life with the breath of his lungs, but he also gives spiritual life with the breath of his Word.

Second, he adds another image proclaiming his Word has a profit. It produces a profit of righteousness. And not a lot of things in life guarantee a profit. But God's Word does. And not just one profit, but four — it teaches, reproofs, corrects, and trains. And in this letter, Paul is concerned about Timothy and his future in a world of corruption and unrighteousness, but he knows that he will be fine if he clings to the life-giving breath of God because it will profit him in every situation.

But we really need to ask ourselves these two questions. First, do we really rely on this life-giving breath? Second, do we really believe it has profit? If so, then today, we should cling to its truth and trust less in our ideas and opinions. Because as you grow more knowledgeable of the words within this book, you will grow more intimate with the God of all creation, who wants you to profit in all you do.