by J. A. Davidson (Northern Ireland)
The apostle encouraged other investors, used his own account to the benefit of the Lord’s people and spoke of the day when each would have his account examined. He writes to the saints at Philippi: "Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account," Phil.4.17. In contrast to Corinthian narrowness and Galatian foolishness, Paul commends Philippian devotedness to the work of God through their practical gift to him. This assembly exercise he considered as a high yielding account, a good return on their investment, recompense from the Lord in the day of reckoning. In the context of partaking and imparting material things, the verb, ‘to communicate’ has the idea of gaining shares with. "But to do good and to communicate forget not," Heb.13.16.
Paul writes to Philemon, to intercede on behalf of Onesimus (his name means ‘Profitable’). "If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account (reckon to me)", Phil.18. Here we have an example of how to act toward a brother to develop the virtues of Christ in him and how difficulties among the Lord’s people can be turned in God’s mercy to blessing and increase.
When Paul comes near to the end of his stewardship in the dismal surroundings of his prison cell, soon to be executed as a criminal, he is not defeated or disappointed. "For which cause I also, suffer these things; but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep (guard, safe keeping) for that day the deposit I have entrusted to Him. Have an outline of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Keep, by the Holy Ghost which dwells in us, the good deposit entrusted," 2Tim.1.12-14 (JND). Paul would never be free again yet he had the settled assurance, the absolute conviction that all which he as a believer and servant had entrusted as a deposit to the safe keeping of God, would be guarded by the power and might of God against robbery or loss. All that Paul valued, not only in salvation but in service, he had deposited with God. God does the keeping of all that is entrusted to Him, it is in the vault of Heaven, safe in the bank of Glory, as an account with God in light of the future time of reward. "Henceforth there is laid up (deposited, stored away, reserved) for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing," 2Tim.4.8. It is to be noted that in the meantime Paul has kept (as a deposit) the faith, ch.4, and Timothy likewise, has been entrusted with the deposit of sound words. In a day of carelessness and compromise, if we squander the treasures of sound doctrine and scriptural truths, we will sustain serious spiritual losses now and find in that day, that the account is shamefully empty.
The adjective form of the noun ‘profit,’ Mk.8.36, is often used by Paul in the pastoral Epistles:
Godliness of Life: "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having a promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come," 1Tim.4.8.
Guidance of the Scriptures: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness," 2Tim.3.16.
Good works: "That they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men," Tit.3.8.
A godly, consistent life in obedience to the Scriptures is the secret to the profit taking (advantageous, beneficial) side of Paul’s ledger. He finds that bodily exercise has little profit in that it pertains to this life, and that some strive about words to no profit at all.
Soon our stewardship of the riches of Christ, the treasures of the Scriptures, the wealth of the Gospel and the precious truths of the Assembly will be called to account. What we have gained or lost will be manifested. For we must all appear (to be made manifest) before the judgment seat of Christ," 2Cor.5.10. "The day shall declare it," 1Cor.3.13. That day shall make evident what may be obscured at present. The true assessment of penetrating judicial discernment shall reveal the Lord’s estimate of what is in the account. Better to have His approval then even if we do not have man’s approval now. The ‘reward’ of past service will be in the nature of ‘hire’ for future service (Newbury). What we put into it now is determining our capacity to serve Him in His future kingdom.
The word which the Saviour used to describe the loss of Mk.8.36 is a very strong word involving the thought of a penalty, literal translation: "To be fined the soul of him." Paul also speaks of loss. "If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by (through) fire," 1Cor.3.15. Much of what seems to be large and imposing lacks substance and quality and is of no essential value. Such investment will come up with a low interest rate, loss of reward, as a bad workman suffers loss of wages. This involves the total rejection not of the man but of his account. He himself will pass through the fire to safety but he will experience the pangs of testing which will consume all that is worthless in his deposit.
May the Lord anoint our eyes with the heavenly eyesalve to set our affections on things above and to invest as a faithful and wise steward. Such wisdom will receive an hundredfold now, in this time and in the world to come, eternal life.
—(Concluded)