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The Acts of the Apostles
will need to labor in the spirit of Christ to set things in order. Faithful
warnings are to be given, sins rebuked, wrongs made right, not only by
the minister’s work in the pulpit, but by personal labor. The wayward
heart may take exception to the message, and the servant of God may
be misjudged and criticized. Let him then remember that “the wisdom
that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be
entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without
hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that
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make peace.”
James 3:17, 18
.
The work of the gospel minister is “to make all men see what
is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the
world hath been hid in God.”
Ephesians 3:9
. If one entering upon this
work chooses the least self-sacrificing part, contenting himself with
preaching, and leaving the work of personal ministry for someone else,
his labors will not be acceptable to God. Souls for whom Christ died
are perishing for want of well-directed, personal labor; and he has
mistaken his calling who, entering upon the ministry, is unwilling to
do the personal work that the care of the flock demands.
The spirit of the true shepherd is one of self-forgetfulness. He
loses sight of self in order that he may work the works of God. By
the preaching of the word and by personal ministry in the homes of
the people, he learns their needs, their sorrows, their trials; and, co-
operating with the great Burden Bearer, he shares their afflictions,
comforts their distresses, relieves their soul hunger, and wins their
hearts to God. In this work the minister is attended by the angels of
heaven, and he himself is instructed and enlightened in the truth that
maketh wise unto salvation.
In connection with his instruction to those in positions of trust in
the church, the apostle outlined some general principles that were to be
followed by all who were associated in church fellowship. The younger
members of the flock were urged to follow the example of their elders
in the practice of Christlike humility: “Likewise, ye younger, submit
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yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another,
and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth
grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty
hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: casting all your care
upon Him; for He careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your