Chapter 58—The Minister’s Family
Home Life of Minister to Exemplify Message—God designs
that in his home life the teacher of the Bible shall be an exemplification
of the truths that he teaches. What a man is has greater influence than
what he says. Piety in the daily life will give power to the public
testimony. Patience, consistency, and love will make an impression on
hearts that sermons fail to reach
If properly carried on, the training of the children of a minister
will illustrate the lessons he gives in the desk. But if, by the wrong
education he has given his children, a minister shows his incapacity to
govern and control, he needs to learn that God requires him to properly
discipline the children given him before he can do his duty as shepherd
of the flock of God
His First Duty Is to His Children—The minister’s duties lie
around him, nigh and afar off; but his first duty is to his children.
He should not become so engrossed with his outside duties as to
neglect the instruction which his children need. He may look upon his
home duties as of lesser importance, but in reality they lie at the very
foundation of the well-being of individuals and of society. To a large
degree the happiness of men and women and the success of the church
depend upon home influence....
Nothing can excuse the minister for neglecting the inner circle for
the larger circle outside. The spiritual welfare of his family comes
first. In the day of final reckoning God will inquire what he did to win
to Christ those whom he took the responsibility of bringing into the
[354]
world. Great good done for others cannot cancel the debt that he owes
to God to care for his own children
The Magnitude of the Minister’s Influence—Ministers’ chil-
dren are in some cases the most neglected children in the world, for
1
Gospel Workers, 204
.
2
Letter 1, 1877
.
3
Gospel Workers, 204
.
268