2 Timothy 3:16 English Standard Version (ESV)  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

A doctor of theology commented that we should pay attention to the order in this verse and then proceeded to speak about reproof as it that was the first item in order. He ignore profitable and perhaps he did so because he was the teacher.

What we are taught should first be profitable. What does Paul mean in saying profitable?

1 Thessalonians 5:11 English Standard Version (ESV) Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Teaching should leave you better off than when it first began. It should move you further down the path towards maturity, towards perfected love, towards godly wisdom, and hopefully closer to our Lord.

I studied this doctor of theology for years before I discovered the errors in his approach to theology.

“I am smarter than you, listen to me.” His ego got in the way and it cost him a readership that numbered in the millions. He failed to adhere to his own advice. Look to the order and do not forget your place.

We are all human and the head of the body is Jesus Christ. Having a voice to be heard comes with a grave responsibility to be sure that what we say is profitable to the wellbeing of the listener.

An approach that seeks to tear down before building up has failed because those of us that came to Christ have already been destroyed and now we are born again, a new creation.

None of us are perfect and that fact should not be lost on us as we try to help one another.

“I need you more than you need me.”

If we are to serve God, we need each other. His word tells us plainly. “Love one another.”

Matthew 11:28 English Standard Version (ESV) Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Here is a modified Cyrano and Roxanne story.

A man loves a beautiful maiden from afar but felt unworthy of her love.

He asked his friend to take his words of love and adoration to the fair maiden.

He did this every day for months.

Then his friend and the fair maiden fell in love and got married.

At the wedding feast he approach the fair maiden and said, “I knew you would reject me but the words my friend spoke were mine.”

She answered, “I did not reject you. You never came to me.”

Matthew 15:8 English Standard Version (ESV) This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;

Don’t let fear keep you from coming to Jesus, for the first time or at any time.

In the Lord’s Prayer He calls for the daily bread and He is the Bread of Life, the Manna from Heaven. We need to come to Him every day to feed on His Word.

While He does reside in our hearts our mouths are operated by our mind. We often speak what is on our minds and not what is on our hearts. Perhaps it would be better if we showed up and spoke from the heart instead.

There is nothing funny about unrequited love.