For Ministers

From John Owen:

What is required of these officers, especially the chiefest, or ministers?

That they be faithful in the ministry committed unto them; sedulous in dispensing the Word; watching for the good of the souls committed to them; going before them in an example of godliness and holiness of life.

My comments:

1. A good minister in all things seeks the good of those who are under his care, as a shepherd his flock. This pattern of leadership was well-represented unto us in David, who is a type for Christ in his kingly, administrating office. We too, as the bishops of Christ among his church, should act as shepherds to the sheep in that in all our labor we seek to advance their good. How seldom in the church does this seem to be in the forefront of a minister's objectives! Though all acknowledge it, few walk in it, and the bulk of ministerial labor seems to be towards the increase of all outward things: bodies in attendance, giving, buildings, exuberance, etc. How rare is the individual care for the soul, for the minister to remember that among his people are people! Souls in need of care are in his congregation, but he forgets that his concern first is to bring them to heaven!

2. The goal of the minister towards his sheep is their good, and if it is their good then it is their salvation. The minister labors first for the salvation of his congregation. And because he is a wise minister, he knows that "not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven," and that therefore the external profession of each individual is not the end of his labors. Now, he desires to see the fruit of the Spirit in their life, that is, an exercise in the fullness of the graces, by which I mean all of them in conjunction, not a few here and there. He desires that his people should be full of love for one another, genuine love from the heart. He desires that they should be full of godly joy in the midst of sorrow. He desires that the should be suffused with peace in their standing before God. He desires that they should be patient and uncomplaining in the midst of suffering. And anon.

3. He watches carefully over each one, laboring with all the power of Christ, praying for them earnestly day-by-day, not resting until he sees in them the true fruit of conversion! This he does towards each one under his care, it is the joy and glory of his service, and all that he desires. Were he to receive no glory for it here on earth, he rests content, for the praise he labors for is that voice of his Father speaking unto him, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things, you will be entrusted with many!"

4. Are you faithful with the men under your care? Is your service towards them half-hearted? Have you warned them of the dangers of the world? Have you alerted them to the dangers of Satan and the flesh? Or do you send them out like lambs to the slaughter, unaware of what is to come?

5. There is no area where ministers are more remiss these days then in the lack of sedulity in the Word. Most of them preach a collection of their own ideas strung together by a few reference verses. Few take any care with the Scriptures, perhaps thinking that Paul's exhortation to Timothy to "correctly handle the Word of truth" was of no special force.

Men of God, do you center all your thinking and all your preaching in the Word? For shame that you should exalt your own ideas, as if your mind were not as weakened by sin as any other! Those who are quickest to critique the thinkings of others seem to give themselves a free pass. No, preach the Word, the Word alone! Abandon your precious thoughts, treasure them in your own time with God perhaps, and if when tested them come forth true, then present them to your church. But give the hungry the Word, let them feed on that, for Christ himself says that the Word gives life, and we, as his ministers, endanger our own soul if we hold back life from our flock!

O Men, if you would preach the Word! The power of it is the very power of God, and when worked through our prayers, it can shatter whatever comes. Preach the word to the lost, preach the word to the professing, preach the word to the striving, preach the word to the settled, preach the word to yourself! This is the power of God unto salvation! The word!

6. Do you shudder before the weight of responsibility? You will give an account one day of all that you did as a minister of God. Do you take this up lightly? Do you earnestly seek to cleanse all your writing from the stain of pride and sin?

Lord, as I go to USC, let me tremble, let me love the men you will entrust to me, let me set forth the Word in all things, and let me experience the power of your grace in all things! O all who read these words, pray for me in my ministry!