Minister in His Home
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cannot control the members of his own family, cannot properly minister
to the church of God, or preserve it from strife and controversy.
Courtesy in the Home
There is danger of failing to give due attention to the little things
of life. There should be no neglect on the part of the minister to speak
kindly, encouraging words in the family circle. My ministering brother,
do you, in the home circle, show rudeness, unkindness, impoliteness?
If you do, no matter how high your profession, you are breaking the
commandments. No matter how earnestly you may preach to others,
if you fail to manifest the love of Christ in your home life, you are
falling short of the standard set for you. Think not that the man who
goes from the sacred desk to indulge in harsh, sarcastic remarks, or
in jesting and joking, is a representative of Christ. The love of God
is not in him. His heart is filled with self-love, self-importance, and
he makes it manifest that he has not a true estimate of sacred things.
Christ is not with him, and he does not go weighted with the solemn
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message of truth for this time.
Ministers’ children are in some cases the most neglected children
in the world, for the reason that the father is with them but little, and
they are left to choose their own employment and amusement. If a
minister has a family of boys, he should not leave them wholly to the
care of the mother. This is too heavy a burden for her. He should make
himself their companion and friend. He should exert himself to keep
them from evil associates, and should see that they have useful work
to do. It may be hard for the mother to exercise self-control. If the
husband sees this, he should take more of the burden upon himself,
doing all in his power to lead his boys to God.
Let the minister’s wife who has children remember that in her
home she has a missionary field in which she should labor with untiring
energy and unflagging zeal, knowing that the results of her work will
endure throughout eternity. Are not the souls of her children of as
much value as the souls of the heathen? then let her tend them with
loving care. She is charged with the responsibility of showing to
the world the power and excellence of home religion. She is to be
controlled by principle, not by impulse, and she is to work with the