ONE cannot do too much for so blessed a Master; indeed when one pauses to consider the riches and magnificence of His grace toward us, the desire is naturally fervent to serve Him, and to serve Him abundantly. And it is well-pleasing to Him. How refreshing it must be to His heart to see souls in this cold selfish world willing to spend and be spent for Him! It is treading surely somewhat in His own blessed footsteps, Who came into the world as the girded One, “not to be ministered unto (even though Lord of all) but to minister.” “I am among you as He that serveth” (Luke 22:2727For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. (Luke 22:27)).
But it is highly important that our service be according to His mind, or service may become not service; and bring His heart no joy, and His laborers no reward. Just a few remarks, on service, and ministry in general, may be helpful to you at the present juncture.
Ministry (whether toward the world or in the church) properly viewed is an expression of God's grace. His grace is its spring; it is His blessed way of supplying the need of souls. “When He ascended up on high, He gave gifts” says Eph. 4. And the spirit of all true ministry is, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:33-3533I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. 34Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:33‑35)). His servants are called and appointed by Him (Gal. 1:11Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) (Galatians 1:1), 1 Tim. 1:11Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; (1 Timothy 1:1), Acts 20:2424But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)), are fitted by Him (2 Cor. 3:4, 54And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; (2 Corinthians 3:4‑5)), and are responsible to Him, and will ere long stand before Him and give account at His judgment seat (1 Cor. 3:2, 12-152I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. (1 Corinthians 3:2)
12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:12‑15) Cor. 5:9).
Dear brother, you are apparently willing to allow another party to come in between your soul and the Lord, and to receive an appointment from men, to be paid by men, and to be responsible to men. Alas! this is what we see all around us in Christendom, both in the National “Churches” and in Dissent; but is it really God's order? At the least, it is faith pushed aside and dependence upon human props substituted for it. And is not the Head dishonored when “official” men take into their hands functions that belong to Him?
If you will read 1 Cor. 9. carefully, you will get a few thoughts of value upon this matter. Paul protested in ver. 19, that he was “free from all men.” Could he have said this, if He had been their employee? He says in ver. 18, that it was his glory to make the gospel of Christ “without charge.” And when men criticized his service, and required an account of him, did he not indignantly repudiate their right, and remind them that he was the Lord's servant, not theirs, and that to his own Master he stood or fell?
There are cases where the Lord calls His servants to such a peculiar path of service that they cannot take up work and supply their own bodily needs; and. in such cases the saints, of God should look after them and see they have no lack; but such instance, I firmly believe, are very rare. The apostle was not one of them, peculiar though his path of service was; he labored with his own hands, aid ministered to his own necessities, and refused to be chargeable to anyone (1 Thess. 2:99For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. (1 Thessalonians 2:9)). And in so doing, he told the Ephesian elders, he had left an example (Acts 20:3535I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)). Blessed and honored servant! ready ever to sacrifice himself in order that his Lord might be glorified and the saints served.
In a general way, it is the Lord's will for His saints that they keep to their occupations. “Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Wast thou called being a servant? care not for it, but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called therein abide with God” (1 Cor. 7:20-2420Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. 21Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. 22For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. 23Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 24Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God. (1 Corinthians 7:20‑24)). I am aware that slaves, not preachers, were before the apostle's mind in penning these words; but the principle applies nevertheless. The Lord guide you, my beloved brother, and deliver you from making any mistake. We cannot serve Him too abundantly; but let our service be according to His revealed truth.
“Grace, mercy and peace, be multiplied unto you.”
W. W. F.