Lasting benefit. In this verse, Paul is referring to the quotation from Psalm 69 and the lasting benefit of the entirety of the Old Testament scriptures. Paul declares that God intended them to benefit not merely the generations to which they were first delivered but to have enduring value for the instruction of all subsequent generations of mankind.

This desire for providing enduring value compelled Jonathan Edwards at the tender of eighteen, and having only been a Christian for a year, in 1722 to begin to pen 70 purpose statements for his life, which would become known as his Resolutions.

Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake. Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week. 

Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

 As Edwards sought to ultimately glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31), he also desired to benefit his fellow man through his endeavors. Similarly, while my ultimate desire in my research is to work as unto the Lord (Col. 3:23-24), I also desire that my efforts would have lasting value to Christ’s Church in providing divinely-empowered spiritual benefit (Rom. 1:11).

References:

https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/acc/romans-15.html

The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards by Steven J. Lawson

 The Resolutions Of Jonathan Edwards by Jonathan Edwards