He clearly did not find the question inappropriate or the questioner undiscerning. That may be the best course outline for a lesson on Christian ethics that I have ever seen or heard about. Think about it. I prepare my sermons. And when he preaches, mine.
Every human being is created to be homo faber, man the fabricator, man the maker, man the worker.
Most of our lives are spent working. It behooves us to prepare for our work carefully, to do our work responsibly, and to improve our work performance conscientiously. Since M.E. Dodd thought he was called by God to preach the gospel, he rightly perceived that he was obligated to prepare his sermons. What Dr. Dodd meant by this, I feel sure, was that he understood that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. He did not want to compromise his life or work with mammon's blandishments.