Self-Caring Ministers
211
As a true shepherd you should discipline yourself to deal with
minds and to give to each of the flock of God his portion of meat
in due season. You should be careful and study to have a store of
practical subjects that you have investigated and that you can enter into
the spirit of and present in a plain, forcible manner to the people at the
right time and place as they may need. You have not been thoroughly
furnished from the word of Inspiration unto all good works. When the
flock have needed spiritual food, you have frequently presented some
argumentative subject that was no more appropriate for the occasion
than an oration upon national affairs. If you would task yourself and
educate your mind to a knowledge of the subjects with which the word
of God has amply furnished you, you could build up the cause of
God by feeding the flock with food which would be proper and which
would give spiritual health and strength as their wants require.
You have yet to learn the work of a true shepherd. When you
understand this, the cause and work of God will rest upon you with
such weight that you will not be inclined to jest and joke, and engage
in light and frivolous conversation. A minister of Christ who has a
proper burden of the work and a high sense of the exalted character and
sacredness of his mission will not be inclined to be light and trifling
with the lambs of the flock.
A true shepherd will have an interest in all that relates to the welfare
of the flock, feeding, guiding, and defending them. He will carry
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himself with great wisdom and will manifest a tender consideration
for all, being courteous and compassionate to all, especially to the
tempted, the afflicted, and the desponding. Instead of giving this class
the sympathy that their particular cases have demanded and that their
infirmities have required, you, my brother, have shunned this class,
while you have drawn largely upon others for sympathy. “Even as the
Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to
give His life a ransom for many.” “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The
servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than
he that sent him.” “But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon
Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” “We
then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not
to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his
good to edification. For even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as it is
written, The reproaches of them that reproached Thee fell on Me.”