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Gospel Workers 1915
The love of ease, and, I may say, physical laziness, unfits a man to
be a minister. Those who are preparing to enter the ministry should
train themselves to do hard physical work; then they will be better able
to do hard thinking.
Let young men set up well-defined landmarks, by which they may
be governed in emergencies. When a crisis comes that demands active,
well-developed physical powers and a clear, strong, practical mind;
when difficult work is to be done, where every stroke must tell; when
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perplexities arise which can be met only by wisdom from on high,
then the youth who have learned to overcome difficulties by earnest
labor can respond to the call for workers.
* * * * *
The Necessity for Steadfastness
In Paul’s letter to Timothy there are many lessons for the young
minister to learn. The aged apostle urged upon the younger worker the
necessity of steadfastness in the faith, “I put thee in remembrance,”
he wrote, “that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the
putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;
but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore
ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner: but be
thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of
God.”
Paul entreated Timothy to remember that he had been called “with
a holy calling” to proclaim the power of Him who had “brought life and
immortality to light through the gospel: whereunto,” he declared, “I
am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not
ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that
He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that
day.” [
2 Timothy 1:6-12
.]
Wherever Paul was,—whether before scowling Pharisees, or Ro-
man authorities; before the furious mob at Lystra, or the convicted
sinners in the Macedonian dungeon; whether reasoning with the panic-
stricken sailors on the shipwrecked vessel, or standing alone before
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Nero to plead for his life,—he had never been ashamed of the cause