Are you a Profitable Servant?

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=100 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04000640egdysm.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Arial" ><B>Church of God, In Truth</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>   |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church of God, In Truth"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B> | </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Edification Articles"><U><B>Up Level</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id294.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Called to be A Kingdom of Priests"><U>Called to be "A Kingdom of Priests"</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id293.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Sprit of Truth vs the Sprit of decep"><U>The Sprit of Truth vs the Sprit of deception</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id290.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A rare find"><U>A rare find</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id289.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Focus on God"><U>Focus on God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id288.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Nation must Honor God"><U>A Nation must Honor God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id286.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Faith?"><U>What is Faith?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id285.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Abrahams family"><U>Abraham's family</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id284.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Women of the Bible"><U>Women of the Bible</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id279.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How important are Gods Holy days to you?"><U>How important are God's Holy days to you??</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id278.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="I am the resurrection and the live"><U>I am the resurrection and the live</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id259.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Man made traditions have infirtrated God"><U>Man made traditions have infirtrated God's church</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id258.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to cope with todays realities"><U>How to cope with today's realities</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id257.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Trials and discouragement"><U>Trials and discouragement</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id256.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Love and defend Gods truth"><U>Love and defend God's truth</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id248.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadmap to peace"><U>Roadmap to peace</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id252.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fear"><U>Fear</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id251.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Differing Opinions"><U>Differing Opinions</U></A>   |   Are you a Profitable Servant?   |   <A HREF="id249.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadmap to peace"><U>Roadmap to peace</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id247.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Listen to God"><U>Listen to God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id246.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Remember the Sabbath to kepp it holy"><U>Remember the Sabbath to kepp it holy</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id244.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MANS TRADITIONS VS. CHRISTS TEACHINGS"><U>MAN'S TRADITIONS VS. CHRIST'S TEACHINGS</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id241.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Following the footprints of Christ"><U>Following the footprints of Christ</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id240.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Angels?"><U>Angels?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id232.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Alabaster Box"><U>The Alabaster Box</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id218.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="War and Peace"><U>War and Peace</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id217.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spiritual winers AND spritual losers"><U>Spiritual winers AND spritual losers</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id213.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Lawless Spirit"><U>America's Lawless Spirit</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id212.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Satans Snare"><U>Satan's Snare</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id176.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Life Comes From:"><U>Life Comes From:</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id174.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Examine for Passover"><U>Examine for Passover</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Wave Sheaf, And the Importance of Su"><U>The Wave Sheaf, And the Importance of Sunday</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id113.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Points To Ponder!"><U>Points To Ponder!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Price Unity?"><U>What Price Unity?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id115.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="New Moon New Month!"><U>New Moon - New Month!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id116.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Creation ... His Silent Gospel!"><U>God's Creation ... His Silent Gospel!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id117.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who or What is Elijah?"><U>Who or What is Elijah?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who are the Three Beasts of Daniel 7?"><U>Who are the Three Beasts of Daniel 7?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Watching the Signs! ... News"><U>Watching the Signs! ... News</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Anointing All with Oil?"><U>Anointing "All" with Oil?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Where is Your Faith? In God, or in the O"><U>Where is Your Faith? In God, or in the Oil?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tradition or Gods Word?"><U>Tradition or God's Word?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id123.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What was the Korah Thinking?"><U>What was the Korah Thinking?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id124.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are You a Blue Angel?"><U>Are You a Blue Angel?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passover: Beginning or End of Fourteenth"><U>Passover: Beginning or End of Fourteenth</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passover or Lamb?"><U>Passover or Lamb?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Scriptural Definition of Apostasy"><U>Scriptural Definition of "Apostasy"</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Conjunction vesus Molad"><U>True Conjunction vesus Molad</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id129.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Hebrew Language"><U>The Hebrew Language</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id130.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Brief History of Judaism"><U>A Brief History of Judaism</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judaism is not the Religion of the Old T"><U>Judaism is not the Religion of the Old Testament</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Let it be seen"><U>Let it be seen</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whos Command?"><U>Who's Command?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id134.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is the Abomination that Causes Deso"><U>What is the Abomination that Causes Desolation?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id135.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are You Begotten? Born Again? Confused?"><U>Are You Begotten? Born Again? Confused?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why Calculate Time fro Jerusalem?"><U>Why Calculate Time fro Jerusalem?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id137.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are we pure in Heart?"><U>Are we pure in Heart?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id138.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dark Moon"><U>Dark Moon</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id140.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Prophet Jonah"><U>The Prophet Jonah</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id142.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Two can be One"><U>Two can be One</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id144.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fishers! Hunters! Watchers!"><U>Fishers! Hunters! Watchers!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Conversion"><U>True Conversion</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id146.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Petra!"><U>Petra!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fear, The Pit and a Snare"><U>Fear, The Pit and a Snare</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id148.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Five Foolish Virgins"><U>Five Foolish Virgins</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id149.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="One Hour"><U>One Hour</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id150.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="7Steps to DisasterLessons from the Titan"><U>7-Steps to Disaster-Lessons from the Titanic</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id151.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Appointed Curriculum for Mankind"><U>God's Appointed "Curriculum" for Mankind</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id152.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Army of Chosen"><U>An Army of Chosen</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id153.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Kingdom of Priests"><U>Kingdom of Priests</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id154.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jewish Roots?"><U>Jewish Roots?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id155.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Galatians CoverUp Part Series"><U>Galatians "Cover-Up" Part Series</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id160.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What does it mean to be sealed?"><U>What does it mean to be sealed?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id161.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Awesome Power"><U>God's Awesome Power</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id162.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Divine Laws Part 1"><U>God's Divine Laws - Part 1</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id163.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Will God Bind Error?"><U>Will God Bind Error?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id164.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Divine Laws Part 2"><U>God's Divine Laws - Part 2</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id165.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="17th Restored Truth Fact or Fiction?"><U>17th Restored Truth - Fact or Fiction?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id166.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Just what do you mean ... the MEAN?"><U>Just what do you mean ... the MEAN?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id167.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Harmony in Gods Creation"><U>Harmony in God's Creation</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id168.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sign of the True Church! "><U>Sign of the True Church! </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id179.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Temples of God"><U>Temples of God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id181.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Way of Life"><U>The Way  of Life</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id182.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why we must fast?"><U>Why we must fast?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id183.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jesus Christ"><U>Jesus Christ</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id189.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Exploring the two Churches of Revelation"><U>Exploring the "two Churches" of Revelation 12</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id190.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Resisting Gods Authority!"><U>Resisting God's Authority!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id194.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Building a Dream of the Kingdom of God"><U>Building a Dream of the Kingdom of God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id196.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Blistering Warning"><U>Blistering Warning</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id197.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Three aspects of the gospel"><U>Three aspects of the gospel</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id200.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Elijahs voice message!"><U>Elijah's voice message!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id205.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Time to Probe and Test"><U>Time to Probe and Test</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id206.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Write it in a Book"><U>Write it in a Book</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id208.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The first shall be last, the last shall "><U>The first shall be last, the last shall be first</U></A></div> <div>    |   <A HREF="id223.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Keep the Sabbath Holy"><U>Keep the Sabbath Holy</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id224.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lagging Behind"><U>Lagging Behind</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id229.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gratitude Toward God"><U>Gratitude Toward God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id233.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Truth?"><U>What is Truth?</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#0000BF" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Church of God, In Truth</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id294.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Called to be A Kingdom of Priests"><U>Called to be "A Kingdom of Priests"</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id293.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Sprit of Truth vs the Sprit of decep"><U>The Sprit of Truth vs the Sprit of deception</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id290.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A rare find"><U>A rare find</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id289.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Focus on God"><U>Focus on God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id288.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Nation must Honor God"><U>A Nation must Honor God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id286.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Faith?"><U>What is Faith?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id285.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Abrahams family"><U>Abraham's family</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id284.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Women of the Bible"><U>Women of the Bible</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id279.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How important are Gods Holy days to you?"><U>How important are God's Holy days to you??</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id278.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="I am the resurrection and the live"><U>I am the resurrection and the live</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id259.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Man made traditions have infirtrated God"><U>Man made traditions have infirtrated God's church</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id258.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to cope with todays realities"><U>How to cope with today's realities</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id257.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Trials and discouragement"><U>Trials and discouragement</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id256.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Love and defend Gods truth"><U>Love and defend God's truth</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id248.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadmap to peace"><U>Roadmap to peace</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id252.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fear"><U>Fear</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id251.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Differing Opinions"><U>Differing Opinions</U></A></div> <div> <B>Are you a Profitable Servant?</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id249.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadmap to peace"><U>Roadmap to peace</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id247.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Listen to God"><U>Listen to God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id246.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Remember the Sabbath to kepp it holy"><U>Remember the Sabbath to kepp it holy</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id244.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MANS TRADITIONS VS. CHRISTS TEACHINGS"><U>MAN'S TRADITIONS VS. CHRIST'S TEACHINGS</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id241.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Following the footprints of Christ"><U>Following the footprints of Christ</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id240.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Angels?"><U>Angels?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id232.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Alabaster Box"><U>The Alabaster Box</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id218.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="War and Peace"><U>War and Peace</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id217.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spiritual winers AND spritual losers"><U>Spiritual winers AND spritual losers</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id213.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Lawless Spirit"><U>America's Lawless Spirit</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id212.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Satans Snare"><U>Satan's Snare</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id176.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Life Comes From:"><U>Life Comes From:</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id174.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Examine for Passover"><U>Examine for Passover</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Wave Sheaf, And the Importance of Su"><U>The Wave Sheaf, And the Importance of Sunday</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id113.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Points To Ponder!"><U>Points To Ponder!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Price Unity?"><U>What Price Unity?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id115.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="New Moon New Month!"><U>New Moon - New Month!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id116.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Creation ... His Silent Gospel!"><U>God's Creation ... His Silent Gospel!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id117.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who or What is Elijah?"><U>Who or What is Elijah?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who are the Three Beasts of Daniel 7?"><U>Who are the Three Beasts of Daniel 7?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Watching the Signs! ... News"><U>Watching the Signs! ... News</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Anointing All with Oil?"><U>Anointing "All" with Oil?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Where is Your Faith? In God, or in the O"><U>Where is Your Faith? In God, or in the Oil?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tradition or Gods Word?"><U>Tradition or God's Word?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id123.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What was the Korah Thinking?"><U>What was the Korah Thinking?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id124.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are You a Blue Angel?"><U>Are You a Blue Angel?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passover: Beginning or End of Fourteenth"><U>Passover: Beginning or End of Fourteenth</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passover or Lamb?"><U>Passover or Lamb?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Scriptural Definition of Apostasy"><U>Scriptural Definition of "Apostasy"</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Conjunction vesus Molad"><U>True Conjunction vesus Molad</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id129.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Hebrew Language"><U>The Hebrew Language</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id130.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Brief History of Judaism"><U>A Brief History of Judaism</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judaism is not the Religion of the Old T"><U>Judaism is not the Religion of the Old Testament</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Let it be seen"><U>Let it be seen</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whos Command?"><U>Who's Command?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id134.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is the Abomination that Causes Deso"><U>What is the Abomination that Causes Desolation?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id135.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are You Begotten? Born Again? Confused?"><U>Are You Begotten? Born Again? Confused?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why Calculate Time fro Jerusalem?"><U>Why Calculate Time fro Jerusalem?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id137.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are we pure in Heart?"><U>Are we pure in Heart?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id138.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dark Moon"><U>Dark Moon</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id140.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Prophet Jonah"><U>The Prophet Jonah</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id142.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Two can be One"><U>Two can be One</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id144.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fishers! Hunters! Watchers!"><U>Fishers! Hunters! Watchers!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Conversion"><U>True Conversion</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id146.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Petra!"><U>Petra!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fear, The Pit and a Snare"><U>Fear, The Pit and a Snare</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id148.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Five Foolish Virgins"><U>Five Foolish Virgins</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id149.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="One Hour"><U>One Hour</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id150.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="7Steps to DisasterLessons from the Titan"><U>7-Steps to Disaster-Lessons from the Titanic</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id151.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Appointed Curriculum for Mankind"><U>God's Appointed "Curriculum" for Mankind</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id152.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Army of Chosen"><U>An Army of Chosen</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id153.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Kingdom of Priests"><U>Kingdom of Priests</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id154.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jewish Roots?"><U>Jewish Roots?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id155.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Galatians CoverUp Part Series"><U>Galatians "Cover-Up" Part Series</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id160.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What does it mean to be sealed?"><U>What does it mean to be sealed?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id161.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Awesome Power"><U>God's Awesome Power</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id162.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Divine Laws Part 1"><U>God's Divine Laws - Part 1</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id163.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Will God Bind Error?"><U>Will God Bind Error?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id164.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Divine Laws Part 2"><U>God's Divine Laws - Part 2</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id165.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="17th Restored Truth Fact or Fiction?"><U>17th Restored Truth - Fact or Fiction?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id166.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Just what do you mean ... the MEAN?"><U>Just what do you mean ... the MEAN?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id167.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Harmony in Gods Creation"><U>Harmony in God's Creation</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id168.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sign of the True Church! "><U>Sign of the True Church! </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id179.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Temples of God"><U>Temples of God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id181.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Way of Life"><U>The Way  of Life</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id182.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why we must fast?"><U>Why we must fast?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id183.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jesus Christ"><U>Jesus Christ</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id189.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Exploring the two Churches of Revelation"><U>Exploring the "two Churches" of Revelation 12</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id190.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Resisting Gods Authority!"><U>Resisting God's Authority!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id194.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Building a Dream of the Kingdom of God"><U>Building a Dream of the Kingdom of God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id196.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Blistering Warning"><U>Blistering Warning</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id197.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Three aspects of the gospel"><U>Three aspects of the gospel</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id200.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Elijahs voice message!"><U>Elijah's voice message!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id205.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Time to Probe and Test"><U>Time to Probe and Test</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id206.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Write it in a Book"><U>Write it in a Book</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id208.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The first shall be last, the last shall "><U>The first shall be last, the last shall be first</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id223.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Keep the Sabbath Holy"><U>Keep the Sabbath Holy</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id224.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lagging Behind"><U>Lagging Behind</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id229.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gratitude Toward God"><U>Gratitude Toward God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id233.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Truth?"><U>What is Truth?</U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=380 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Are you a Profitable Servant?</I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>ARE YOU A PROFITABLE SERVANT?</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <div> After returning home from a very positive and spiritually uplifting Feast of Tabernacles, we all face returning to our normal mundane lives - perhaps a job, and certainly the problems, trials and tests we left behind to go to the Feast. Unfortunately, the millennial rule of Jesus Christ is not a reality yet, so how do we stay positive in a negative world? Is there something that we should concentrate on after our return from the spiritual ‘high' we had at the Feast? Well, there is one subject that kept coming up in my mind - one that is vital to our spiritual survival. </div> <div> The light bulb kind of came on for me during our final song service on the Last Great Day. One of the songs we sang was "If I Have Not Charity," which is based on 1 Corinthians 13 - what many know as the "love chapter." The basic premise of that song, is if we don't have genuine love for God and our fellow man, then our religion is in vain! As elaborated on in the verses of the song and 1 Corinthians 13, even if we can know and understand all prophecy, have the faith to move mountains, know the exact instant of the new moon, but if we don't have love, we don't have anything. It really does boil down to true Christian living - to whether we are truly a "profitable" servant to God and Jesus Christ. </div> <div> Are we a profitable servant for God and our fellow men and women, or are we just kidding ourselves? Do you really know what it means to be a worthy or profitable servant? Are you sure? </div> <div> My wife and I were able to talk to quite a few people this year at the Feast, and one of the subjects that came up was a familiar one to most of us at one time or another in our Christian lives: Do we sometimes feel that, despite all our efforts, we are not growing spiritually as we should? Perhaps we say, "I'm trying the best I can, but I just don't see much spiritual growth in my life. What's wrong with me? Am I an unworthy servant?" These questions should concern every one of us in the Church of God! </div> <div> On the Last Great Day of the Feast, we looked at a few verses in 2 Peter chapter 3, which referred to the coming Day of the Lord and the New Heavens and the New Earth. After speaking about this momentous time, Peter continues his exhortation to the people of God, telling them (and us), "Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, (or since we know this to be true) beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless…beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." (2 Pet. 3:13-14, 17-18) </div> <div> But what causes our growth to sometimes be so slow? Can we be good Christians and still be unprofitable servants? What does God require of us as His begotten children? </div> <div> One of the best known incidents in the Bible is the short conversation that took place between Christ and a young, wealthy man in Mark 10, concerning salvation. From all indications, this young man was conscious of his duties, faithful and respectful. He knelt down before Christ and asked Him what he should do in order to inherit eternal life, "Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?'" (Mark 10:17) </div> <div> Basically, Christ told him to keep the commandments, but to make His meaning even clearer, He quoted the part of the Ten Commandments that defines man's relationship with his neighbor, "You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,' ‘Do not murder,' ‘Do not steal,' ‘Do not bear false witness,' ‘Do not defraud,' ‘Honor your father and your mother.'" (Vs.19) </div> <div> Unlike many, if not most people today, this wealthy young man didn't argue with the answer he received from Christ. He recognized the validity of the order and the importance of keeping God's laws. In fact, he already considered himself to be a profitable servant. "Master, all these have I observed from my youth." (Vs.20) This was quite a unique young man! He professed his love of God and His commandments - not many people today, could stand before Christ and tell Him boldly that they have observed from their youth His commandments! In his own mind, this man thought he had passed the test. What else could there have been for him to do in order to receive his reward? </div> <div> Well, there was something; Christ told him, "One thing you lack: go your way, sell what ever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." (Vs.21) That must have seemed like a very harsh order to this young man. Why should anyone be asked to give up so much if he was already doing his best to be good and keep the commandments? It just didn't make any sense. The rich young man was unwilling to go that far - to sacrifice to such an extent. So what was his decision? "But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." (Vs.22) </div> <div> Was he a profitable servant? Would we have done better had we been in his place? Can we honestly say that we are actually doing any better with our own possessions right now - however big or small they might be? Would you be shocked and maybe even irritated if you were told that God expects of you, the impossible? That's the way the apostles felt when they heard the answer Christ gave the young man. Their response after hearing Christ's answer? "And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, ‘Who then can be saved?" (Vs.26) </div> <div> Would God really ask the impossible? Well, that depends on what is meant by "impossible" and who is doing it! Christ went on to explain to His disciples that all things are possible with God, "But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.'" (Vs.27) </div> <div> What is the greatest gift we can receive in this life? Isn't it God's Spirit? If we are truly part of the Body of Christ, God has given us something the rest of the world doesn't have. And yet, God plainly does expect a lot from us. "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more." (Luke 12:48) </div> <div> One of the lessons we learn during Unleavened Bread is applicable to the subject at hand: we cannot conquer our human nature, or root out all sin from our lives - however great our human efforts - it is impossible. But God can and does do it through us with His Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. We cannot fight against Satan and the lust of the world all by our selves, but God can and will - if we strive to obey and serve Him with our whole heart. Even though, through our own human efforts, we are not always able to do much - with God's Spirit, which enables Christ to live in us - we can do the impossible! </div> <div> Our part is to do God's will - to surrender to Him and let Him shape and use us as He wishes. Most people in the Church (and I am speaking of all the various splinters), believe they are doing their share by merely living "good" lives. They may be members in good standing, warm a seat at services every Sabbath and be willing to serve whenever called upon. And, just like the young man with great possessions, they may consider themselves "good Christians," wondering what's left for them to do to inherit eternal life. Kind of sounds like the end-time Laodicean condition of being "in need of nothing," doesn't it? </div> <div> As God's people, we should know that is not enough to please God. Even people in the world - who don't have God's Spirit can be "good" that way. I've known a lot of very fine people who were Catholics, Baptists, Lutherans, etc., but they did not have God's Holy Spirit! Jesus similarly exhorted His disciples concerning the Pharisees: if our righteousness and deeds don't exceed theirs, we won't enter the Kingdom of God! Neither the Pharisees, nor those previously mentioned "Christians," have (or had) God's Spirit, but we supposedly do. "Christianity" must have for us, a different connotation. </div> <div> Keeping God's commandments, paying tithes, observing His Sabbath and His Feasts - all these things are required of us. But they won't make us a worthy servant. We must go over and above those requirements - we must do what others in the world can't do. God's Spirit in us will not only help us obey His commandments in the letter and in the Spirit, but will also help us fight against the things we are humanly unable to conquer. We must go over and above our call of duty, because we have received God's Spirit - a Spirit of love and power that enables us to do what, with human nature, we are unwilling or unable to do. </div> <div> That's why Christ said, "When you shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." (Luke 17:10) </div> <div> In the parable of the talents, after praising and rewarding the previous individuals, we can read what Christ tells the person who hid the one talent given to him, "Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'" (Matt. 25:24-30) </div> <div> During the "Sermon on the Mount," Jesus revealed the difference between what we humanly can do, and the humanly impossible things God's Spirit can do through us. He stated, "You have heard that it was said by them of old time, you shall not kill (commit murder)." (Matt. 5:21) This is a law any human can learn to keep if he has anything approaching a normal living environment. In fact, most people manage to go through life without ever being guilty of a crime. But it won't make them a profitable servant in God's sight. The Pharisees were very diligent in physically obeying the Commandments! </div> <div> Look at what Christ teaches in the next verse, "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca,' shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, ‘you fool,' shall be in danger of hell fire." (Vs.22) If you think about it, this aspect of the law is impossible for any human being to keep without God's Spirit. But the Spirit of God gives you the help you need not to insult your brother or not to get angry with him - or certainly not to remain so! </div> <div> Christ continues to expand on the Commandments of God, "You have heard that it was said by them of old time, ‘you shall not commit adultery.'" (Vs.27) Many people in the world have learned not to commit adultery. There are plenty of fine marriages in this world where mates are physically faithful to one another. If all we do is the same - how does that make us a better "Christian" than they? Or, do we obey Christ, who continues the thought, "Whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart?" (Vs.28) If we extrapolate that thought, and apply the spiritual intent of it, we would see, that even if we are physically a faithful husband or wife, but we still lust after another person, we are far from being a worthy servant! </div> <div> Christ continues His sermon, "You have heard that it has been said by them of old time, ‘you shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.'" (Vs.33) Any well intentioned human with a decent education can refrain from taking God's name in vain, using foul language and not swearing. But we, as true Christians with God's Spirit, must do something others can't do: "But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes' be ‘Yes,' and your ‘No,' ‘No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." (Vs.34-37) </div> <div> At the beginning of the article, I brought up 1 Cor. 13, the "love chapter." Well, what about love? Is our love, as a Christian, different from the love of someone who does not have God's Spirit? It should be - no it must be! How about our love toward our neighbor - our enemies? "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.'" (Vs.43) Lots of people succeed in keeping this commandment. It's easy to love someone who loves you, or is close to you. And it is just as easy to hate someone who is your enemy or wants to hurt you. How did Christ spiritually amplify this statement? He said as a true Christian, we should, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." (Vs.44) We can't possibly love our enemies the way we love our friends unless we have God's Spirit. It's hard, isn't it, to ask God to bless someone who hates you and who will seize every opportunity to hurt and persecute you? But as a Christian you have to help your enemies in need, do good to them and even lay down your life for them! </div> <div> Back in Matthew. 25, after condemning the unprofitable servant, Christ goes on to list some of the things that make up a "profitable" servant, "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Matt. 25:34-46) </div> <div> Indeed, much is required of profitable servants. We can't work, give or serve to be seen of men, but of God. Ultimately, our reward is not of men, but of God. We can only strive toward perfection by allowing God's Spirit to do through us what we humanly can't, or don't want to do. If keeping the commandments has become routine for us, or if we keep them just because it's "required" of us, then we are indeed unworthy servants! </div> <div> What about our tithes and offerings? The spirit of "getting" won't make anyone a profitable servant! If we are paying God's tithes because we "have to," or to get a tax deduction, then none of the money we pay - even if we give millions of dollars will make us a worthy servant. To serve or give because we expect something in return shows carnal-mindedness. </div> <div> Why don't we compare the rich young man's attitude with that of the poor widow who gave her two mites as an offering. Did she expect anything in return? Did men see it? No, but God did, and Christ said, "Truly I say to you, that this poor widow has cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance put in offerings for God: but she of her poverty has cast in all the livelihood that she had." (Luke 21:3-4) That poor widow was a worthy servant, not because of what she gave, but because of the spirit in which she gave - her godly attitude, her devotion and love. That's what made her do more than was required of her. </div> <div> Do you know the difference between a good work and good works? Whatever our task, we must endeavor to do a good work. That's required of us. But besides doing a good work we must have good works - works that are not required of us and which we perform without expecting anything in return. </div> <div> In Acts chapter 9, there is a story related about Dorcas, a widow who did more than was required of her. She was full of good works. "At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, ‘Tabitha, arise.' And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive." (Acts 9:36-41) </div> <div> And what a reward Dorcas received after she fell sick and died! Her friends who had seen her good works sent for Peter. They showed him the coats and garments Dorcas had made while she was alive. Peter prayed for her and God heard his prayer. Dorcas was brought back to physical life because of her good works! She had probably never dreamed, while she was alive, that one day her good works would be a testimony in her favor to be brought back to life and even have her name and good works mentioned in the Scriptures! Dorcas had done more than was required of her, without expecting anything in return. She was a worthy and profitable servant. </div> <div> How about us? Do we have enough good works? Just remember that keeping the commandments, praying every day and living a Christian life are only part of the requirements of conversion; they won't necessarily make us a worthy servant. We have to do what others can't do without God's Spirit. </div> <div> Mr. Armstrong, in doing all the work he did - in being instrumental in the calling of the First Fruits, and raising up the Church, acknowledged that it was God who did everything and not himself. However, as Mr. Armstrong also stated, he had to work as hard as he humanly could - as though he had to do it all! He knew we were in a battle to overcome self, the world around us and even Satan. That's precisely what it takes to be a profitable servant. God is at work, but we have to strive and work as though we were doing them. Sometimes we have to really push ourselves in our fight. </div> <div> We cannot be a profitable servant if we are selfish and lazy. We cannot please God if we only do what is required of us, or do it in order to be seen by men. If we have God's Spirit, we must live to help and serve. Traditionally, the last song we sing as we close out the Last Great Day service is "Onward Christian Soldiers." We are Christian soldiers whose fighting is done by God! </div> <div> Look at Christ's example. Look how hard He Himself worked - how much He sacrificed and what He gave up! More than anyone else, He lived to help, to serve and to sacrifice - even His very life! He always did more than what was required of Him. We must do our good works without ever expecting anything in return. If the people around us don't see them, or if they don't seem to appreciate them - don't worry about it. Perform every task as best you know how. Seek to please God, not man. </div> <div> As Solomon recorded over in Ecc. 9:10, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might." God will always give us whatever help we need whenever we do it with the right attitude. If God sees our good works, that's all that really matters. He will find you to be a profitable servant, and one day you will hear Him tell you: "Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (Matt.25:34) </div> <div> Pete Fleming </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>