Self-Caring Ministers
217
to have more physical exercise daily; for it will quicken the sluggish
blood to healthful activity, and will carry you above discontent and
infirmities.
You should not neglect diligent study, but should pray for light
from God that He would open to your understanding the treasures of
His word, that you may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
You will never be in a position where it is not necessary for you to
watch and pray earnestly in order to overcome your besetments. You
will need to be guarded continually to keep self out of sight. You have
encouraged a habit of making yourself very prominent, dwelling upon
your family difficulties and your poor health. In short, yourself has
been the theme of your conversation and has come in between you and
your Saviour. You should forget self and hide behind Jesus. Let the
dear Saviour be magnified, but lose sight of self. When you see and
feel your weakness you will not see that there is anything in yourself
worthy of notice or remark. The people have not only been wearied,
but disgusted, with your preliminaries before you present your subject.
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Every time that you speak to the people and mention your family trials
you lower yourself in their estimation and suggest suspicions that you
are not all right.
You have the example of ministers who have exalted themselves
and who have coveted praise from the people. They were petted
and flattered by the indiscreet until they became exalted and self-
sufficient, and, trusting in their own wisdom, made shipwreck of
faith. They thought that they were so popular that they could take
almost any course and yet retain their popularity. Here has been
your presumption. When the deportment of a minister of Christ gives
gossiping tongues facts as subject matter to discuss and his morality is
seriously questioned, he should not call this jealousy or slander. You
should be cautious how you encourage a habitual train of thought from
which habits are formed that will prove your ruin. Mark those whose
course you should abhor, and then forbear to take the first step in the
direction they have traveled.
You have been self-sufficient and so blinded and deluded by Satan
that you could not discern your weakness and many errors. “But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections