noun
1: resources or advantage acquired or increased 2: the act or process of acquiring something 3: an increase in amount, magnitude, or degree a gain in efficiency
verb
1: to acquire or get possession of usually by industry, merit, or craft ...REACH, ATTAIN to get by a natural development or process gain strength
2: to win to one's side : PERSUADE
3: to cause to be obtained or given : ATTRACT
Questions:
When you think of gain, what do you think of? Friends? Wealth? Power? Strength? Advantage? How important is gain to you? What will you do/sacrifice for gain?
As an important theme in scripture the Bible has some great encouragement and reminders of where and to whom we are to place passions for gain. Here are some key verses.
Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Job 21:15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?”
Job 22:3 What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous? What would he gain if your ways were blameless?
Job 35:3 Yet you ask him, “What profit is it to me, and what do I gain by not sinning?”
Psalm 30:9 ‘What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
Psalm 60:12 With God we shall gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.
Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 119:36 Turn my heart towards your statutes and not towards selfish gain.
Psalm 119:104 I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.
Proverbs 1:19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.
Proverbs 3:13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,
Proverbs 8:5 You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.
Proverbs 11:16 A kind-hearted woman gains honour, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
Proverbs 11:24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
Proverbs 15:32 Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.
Proverbs 16:8 Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.
Proverbs 29:23 Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honour.
Ecclesiastes 1:3 What do people gain from all their labours at which they toil under the sun?
Jeremiah 6:13 ‘From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit.
Habakkuk 2:9 ‘Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the clutches of ruin!
Matthew 16:26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
Luke 16:9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
John 7:18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.
Romans 5:1,2 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 13:3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
1 Timothy 3:13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Peter 5:2 be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;