A Profitable Faith: How Christians Benefit Others Through Their Lives

Summary

A profitable Christian life blesses others through teaching, testimony, care, and generosity. Faith is not meant to be spiritually unproductive. Paul modeled a life that taught truth, lived it authentically, shared the gospel, and gave sacrificially. God brings the results, but believers must feed on His Word, serve people, and give freely. True faith profits others and honors God.

Don’t Be a Non-Profit Christian

I saw a sign in a restaurant. “This is a non-profit organization. We did not plan it that way, but that is how it worked out!”

That is not good for an organization. It is worse to be a non-profit individual.

Could you find ten people to share how your Christian faith has profited them? You can be profitable to others in at least four ways.

A Profitable Faith Through Teaching and Example

You can be profitable through teaching. Paul told the Ephesian church elders, “You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house” (Acts 20:20 NIV).

Not all teaching is profitable. Profitable teachers know their subject. They can communicate effectively, have patience, and a sense of humor.

William A. Ward said, “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”¹

You inspire through a combination of the right doctrine and the right practice. The smaller the gap, the better.

Persistently apply God’s word to your daily life. Tell your students how you are doing that. Be specific and real.

A Profitable Faith Through Testimony and Care

Your life is profitable when you testify to the life-changing power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sharing your testimony with unbelievers can spark a desire to follow Him.

Paul’s ministry was not to save souls but to bear witness to the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24). God is responsible for the results.

Your life is profitable to others when you care for both you and them (Acts 20:28). You care for yourself by feeding on God’s word. It builds you up. It makes you strong, faithful, and profitable (Acts 20:32).

Barbells build muscles; books, the mind; and the Bible, the person. Your pastor’s input is not enough. Mature Christians feed themselves from God’s word. That equips them to feed others.

A Profitable Faith Through Giving

You become profitable to others by giving. It frees you from coveting. Covetousness is slavery to material things. You cannot effectively serve and be profitable to people if your first allegiance is to things.

A man in his seventies washed dishes in the Lifeline Mission on the San Francisco waterfront. After his death, his estate gave $150,000 to the mission and $128,000 to a Christian college. He gave his time, energy, and money to the Lord’s work. He experienced the blessings of a giving lifestyle (Acts 20:35).

It is easier to give your money than yourself. Profitable faith does both. See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians.

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1.     William Arthur Ward - The mediocre teacher tells. The good... (brainyquote.com)

God has empowered me to write His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength. It’s a free, evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship e-book. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead 7,590 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 17,681 people. I invite you to explore and use it in your setting.  

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