1 Timothy 4:15 Meditate on these things; give yourself wholly to them; that your profiting may appear to all. I. THAT MINISTERS MUST GIVE THEMSELVES WHOLLY TO THEIR WORK BY GIVING THEIR HEARTS TO IT. NO man over gives himself wholly to any business to which his heart is opposed. Paul gave his heart so much to the ministry, as to esteem it a great and distinguishing privilege. "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord," says he, "who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry." His life was bound up in his work. Their hearts are so absorbed in their work that it becomes the source of their highest joys and deepest sorrows. II. Ministers must give themselves wholly to their work, by giving their THOUGHTS to it. Men always meditate upon their supreme object of pursuit. III. Ministers must give themselves wholly to their work, by giving their STUDIES to it. The apostle exhorts Timothy to "give attendance to reading." This includes study and thinking, and every mode of intellectual improvement. IV. Ministers must give themselves wholly to their work, by devoting all their TIME to it. They may employ their whole time in their work; because it is a work which may be done, not only on the first and the last, but on every day of the week. Ministers, indeed, should be frugal of time. They should divide it properly, and devote each part to some particular part of their duty. They should live by rule. V. Ministers must give themselves wholly to their work, by giving all their INTERESTS to it. The apostles were obliged to do this literally. They would not have been the ministers of Christ, without literally following his injunction, to forsake all that they had. Not to insist, however, on such extraordinary cases, I would go on to observe that every minister is called, at least, to make all his worldly interests subservient to his holy and Divine employment. VI. Ministers must give themselves wholly to their work, by making their SECRET DEVOTIONS subservient to it. They should give themselves to reading, meditation, prayer and self examination; and in all these secret devotions have a particular reference to their public office. VII. That ministers must give themselves wholly to their work, by LIVING AGREEABLY to it. Their lives should resemble their sacred character, and be worthy of the imitation of the best of Christians.Having shown, in various respects, how ministers must give themselves wholly to their work, I now proceed to suggest several reasons why they must give themselves wholly to it. I. And here the first reason that occurs is, that by giving themselves wholly to the ministry they will make the duties of it more EASY AND PLEASANT. Their work is truly great and laborious, which needs to be made as light and easy as possible. And though by giving themselves wholly to it, they will neither omit nor curtail any of its duties and labours, yet they will render these very duties and labours more pleasant and delightful, II. Ministers should devote themselves wholly to the service of their people, because this is THE WISEST AND BEST WAY TO SECURE THEIR LOVE AND RESPECT. We love to see a person heartily and zealously engaged for our good. This is human nature. The sick man esteems and values the physician who devotes himself to his service, and stands by him day and night, to watch his every motion, and to extend his healing hand at every call. III. Ministers must give themselves wholly to their work, because this will be THE BEST SECURITY AGAINST THE SNARES AND TEMPTATIONS TO WHICH THEY ARE EXPOSED. IV. Ministers must give themselves wholly to their work, because this is THE BEST WAY TO BECOME EXTENSIVELY USEFUL. Every industrious man, in every lawful calling, is a useful man. Industry makes the useful farmer, the useful mechanic, the useful physician, and the useful magistrate. V. Ministers must give themselves wholly to their work, because THEY ACTUALLY ENGAGE TO DO IT. VI. That the IMPORTANCE of the ministry requires those who undertake it to give themselves wholly to their office. I have now finished what I have to say upon the nature and obligation of ministers giving themselves wholly to their work, and proceed to improve the subject. 1. We learn, that if ministers do give themselves wholly to their work, they will make it appear. 2. We learn, that if ministers do not give themselves wholly to their work, they will also make it appear. 3. We learn, why the vineyard of Christ bears, at this day, such a disagreeable and melancholy appearance. 4. We learn, the great criminality of those who sustain the sacred office, but do not give themselves wholly to their work. (N. Emmons, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. |
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