What Is Profitable...and What is Not
Nowadays, it seems that people, both Christian and non, like to use the Bible to beat Christians in to submission to this or that idea. Whether or not I have your approval, I'm going to trounce all over this notion. The Word isn't for us to beat one another in to submission, but it is there for teaching, correcting, pointing out where one is at fault (reproof), and for correcting offenses. It's not there to be used as a billy club to get one's way (See 2 Timothy 3, below). Too many of us have fallen in love with ourselves. In the west (I can only speak from my experience, especially what I see on Social Media), we value our opinions even over Christ's Word, and have a tendency to use whatever we can to make our opinions known, heard, and obeyed. When the Paul writes about what is profitable about Scripture, what He means is that it is there to equip YOU. It is there to humble YOU. It is there to correct YOU. The word of God has little to no effect on those full of pride. There's no profit in correcting a prideful person, to the point where Jesus calls such people dogs and pigs, and warns that giving them what is sacred will cause them to trample and devour you (Matthew 7:6)! I'm not saying we shouldn't teach, correct, rebuke and point out where flaws are in one's walk with Jesus; there is a time and place for that. HOWEVER, we should do such things only when we are walking in the same: humility and love. There's no profit if we don't love and if we're full of pride. So let yourself be humbled before God. Let His word profit you, that you may be fully equipped for every good work! Walk in humility and love by His word, and watch the Holy Spirit shine through! 2 Timothy 3:10-17 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
