Chapter 34—A Consecrated Ministry
In His life and lessons Christ has given a perfect exemplification of
the unselfish ministry which has its origin in God. God does not live
for Himself. By creating the world, and by upholding all things, He
is constantly ministering to others. “He maketh His sun to rise on the
evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Matthew 5:45
. This ideal of ministry the Father committed to His Son.
Jesus was given to stand at the head of humanity, by His example to
teach what it means to minister. His whole life was under a law of
service. He served all, ministered to all.
Again and again Jesus tried to establish his principle among His
disciples. When James and John made their request for pre-eminence,
He said, “Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even
as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and
to give His life a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:26-28
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Since His ascension Christ has carried forward His work on the
earth by chosen ambassadors, through whom He speaks to the children
of men and ministers to their needs. The great Head of the church
superintends His work through the instrumentality of men ordained by
God to act as His representatives.
The position of those who have been called of God to labor in
word and doctrine for the upbuilding of His church, is one of grave
responsibility. In Christ’s stead they are to beseech men and women to
be reconciled to God, and they can fulfill their mission only as they
receive wisdom and power from above.
Christ’s ministers are the spiritual guardians of the people entrusted
to their care. Their work has been likened to that of watchmen. In
ancient times sentinels were often stationed on the walls of cities,
where, from points of vantage, they could overlook important posts
to be guarded, and give warning of the approach of an enemy. Upon
their faithfulness depended the safety of all within. At stated intervals
they were required to call to one another, to make sure that all were
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