Young Men in the Ministry
There must be no belittling of the gospel ministry. No enterprise
should be so conducted as to cause the ministry of the word to be
looked upon as an inferior matter. It is not so. Those who belittle the
ministry are belittling Christ. The highest of all work is ministry in its
various lines, and it should be kept before the youth that there is no
work more blessed of God than that of the gospel minister.
Let not our young men be deterred from entering the ministry.
There is danger that through glowing representations some will be
drawn away from the path where God bids them walk. Some have
been encouraged to take a course of study in medical lines who ought
to be preparing themselves to enter the ministry. The Lord calls for
more ministers to labor in His vineyard. The words were spoken,
“Strengthen the outposts; have faithful sentinels in every part of the
world.” God calls for you, young men. He calls for whole armies of
young men who are large-hearted and large-minded, and who have a
deep love for Christ and the truth.
The measure of capacity or learning is of far less consequence than
is the spirit with which you engage in the work. It is not great and
[64]
learned men that the ministry needs; it is not eloquent sermonizers.
God calls for men who will give themselves to Him to be imbued with
His Spirit. The cause of Christ and humanity demands sanctified, self-
sacrificing men, those who can go forth without the camp, bearing the
reproach. Let them be strong, valiant men, fit for worthy enterprises,
and let them make a covenant with God by sacrifice.
The ministry is no place for idlers. God’s servants are to make full
proof of their ministry. They will not be sluggards, but as expositors of
His word they will put forth their utmost energies to be faithful. They
should never cease to be learners. They are to keep their own souls
alive to the sacredness of the work and to the great responsibilities of
their calling, that they may at no time or place bring to God a maimed
sacrifice, an offering which has cost them neither study nor prayer.
52