In this age of Cancel Culture, anyone who does, posts or says the wrong thing is discarded like yesterday’s trash. Despite how successful someone may have been in the past, anyone who fails to adhere to the political and social norms will be banished, removed and shadow banned from social media outlets. The concept of forgiveness, grace and mercy have been omitted, forcing the unprofitable to try to tarry on in a modern land of misfits.
Once he was unprofitable to you, but now he is indeed profitable to you as well as to me, Philemon 1:11.
As a church planter throughout the first century, the apostle Paul occasionally reflected upon people who let him down. The unprofitable individual who Paul encountered in the passage above is Onesimus. Since Paul isn’t referring to his financial status, Onesimus was likely a byproduct of an immature faith. Instead of flourishing as a new Christian, Onesimus had one foot in his former life and the other struggling to grasp his new faith in Christ.
Obey your spiritual leaders and submit to them [continually recognizing their authority over you], for they are constantly keeping watch over your souls and guarding your spiritual welfare, as men who will have to render an account [of their trust]. [Do your part to] let them do this with gladness and not with sighing and groaning, for that would not be profitable to you [either], Hebrews 13:17.
The author of Hebrews provides advice for struggling and unprofitable Christians. The first piece starts with obeying the spiritual leaders put in place by the Lord. Second, find a spiritual mentor who will keep watch over your soul by preparing you for the ongoing spiritual war, Ephesians 6:12. Since transformation doesn’t occur overnight, you have to place your trust in the Lord day after day to turn an unprofitable soul into a profitable faith.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 