Minister’s Wife
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upon, but to labor with him. She should have a united interest with
him to do good. She should be willing to accompany her husband, if
home cares do not hinder, and she should aid him in his efforts to save
souls. With meekness and humility, yet with a noble self-reliance, she
should have a leading influence upon minds around her, and should
act her part and bear her cross and burden in meeting, and around the
family altar, and in conversation at the fireside. The people expect
this, and they have a right to expect it. If these expectations are not
realized, the husband’s influence is more than half destroyed. The wife
of a minister can do much if she will. If she possesses the spirit of
self-sacrifice and has a love for souls, she can with him do almost an
equal amount of good.
A sister laborer in the cause of truth can understand and reach
some cases, especially among the sisters, that the minister cannot. A
responsibility rests upon the minister’s wife which she should not and
cannot lightly throw off. God will require the talent lent her, with usury.
She should work earnestly, faithfully, and unitedly with her husband
to save souls. She should never urge her wishes and desires, or express
a lack of interest in her husband’s labor, or dwell upon homesick,
discontented feelings. All these natural feelings must be overcome.
She should have a purpose in life which should be unfalteringly carried
out. What if this conflicts with the feelings, and pleasures, and natural
tastes? These should be cheerfully and readily sacrificed in order to
do good and save souls.
The wives of ministers should live devoted, prayerful lives. But
some would enjoy a religion in which there are no crosses and which
calls for no self-denial and exertion on their part. Instead of standing
nobly for themselves, leaning upon God for strength and bearing their
individual responsibility, they have much of the time been dependent
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upon others, deriving their spiritual life from them. If they would only
lean confidingly, in childlike trust, upon God, and have their affections
centered in Jesus, deriving their life from Christ, the living Vine, what
an amount of good they might do, what a help they might be to others,
what a support to their husbands, and what a reward would be theirs
in the end! “Well done, good and faithful servants,” would fall like
sweetest music upon their ears. The words, “Enter thou into the joy
of thy Lord,” would repay them a thousand times for all suffering and
trials endured to save precious souls.