Kept Back Nothing

“And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”-Acts 20:20-21

Imagine if a wealthy businessman left to his son the bulk of his business but kept back the most profitable division.  He showed and taught the son most of the company but neglected the most important and profitable part of it.  Perhaps he felt he was not prepared to handle it yet.  Maybe he was worried he might ruin it.  Would you say the father had dealt wisely?  Or set his son up for failure?  As with this foolish father, so it is with us if we keep back something that is profitable.  If we fail to present the full gospel to our generation.

My mind and heart have been set on the question “Am I presenting the gospel in the manner that will be profitable to all?”  Or “Am I keeping back something?”  Ignoring or diluting a truth, tradition, point of doctrine, or manner of living.  Knowing that it would be beneficial but for lack of courage or conviction it appears best to leave it alone.  Better to sweep it under the rug, so to speak.  Better to put it in the back of the closet, because bringing it out into the light would create a disturbance and press us into hard decisions both individually and collectively.  The presentation of the gospel is the sum of our lives.  We teach by our words and our example.  If one lives the example of an unhealthy lifestyle.  Eating junk, lounging on the couch, and ballooning up to three hundred pounds.  Then they try to turn around and tell everyone about the merits of nutrition, diet, and a healthy lifestyle; who will listen to them?  The actions don’t back up the sermon.  The same thing goes for preaching the gospel.  We cannot live as we please and indulge ourselves in everything the world trumps out, then turn around and cry against it one Sunday a week.  We cannot preach about the deceitfulness of riches only to climb into a sixty-thousand-dollar sports car.  We cannot run after every new star, fashion, and entertainment; then talk about the lust of the flesh, eyes, and pride of life.  Well, in truth, we can, we can if we want to.  However, it keeps back that which is profitable.  It diminishes the presentation of the gospel because the actions speak louder than words.   Your life is the sermon, and the sermon your life.  The Apostle said, “I shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house.”  He wrote to Timothy his “own son in the faith” saying: “But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life” It is not just what he preached, but what he lived.  This is what produced a lasting impact and wrought in the church a beautiful presentation of the gospel.  That which was profitable to the Christian on clear display, to both do and teach. 

Action is the product of belief.  The beliefs held and taught while acted upon are exemplified in daily life.  We must do this with no point of doctrine or truth of scripture left out.  In teaching, preaching, or living.  We cannot present the gospel as we see fit and hope it will save the world, because then it is not the gospel.  The responsibility of being an ambassador is to clearly and accurately represent the country from which you are from.  The ambassador can present his country to foreign nations in a pure and wonderful way, or a diminished and impoverished way.  We are Christ’s ambassadors.  It is up to us to present the gospel to this world and keep back nothing that is profitable.