The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-03-07
The Primary Work Of the Minister
Contributed.

Contributed.
But we will give ourselves continually to
prayer. and to the ministry Of the Gospel -
Acts 6:i.
The church was growing The spirit
in which the Apostles labored had given
intense reality to their religion. The
spirit of God had witnessed the preach
ing OF the Word by signs and wonders
and divers miracles. They had been en-
outraged by their miraculous deliver
ance from prison by an angel. Enemies
had been sienced and one of the chiefs
had advised that these fellows be left
alone But Notwithstanding the zeal Of
the Apostles and the growth in the num-
Der OF converts, q new trouble arose.
One of the first institutions OF the church
was to supply the needs OF the destitute
of their members. Among those who
composed the church were many widows
from both the Hellenists and Hebrews OF
destitute circumstances, and the church
looked after their needs daily. The ApOs-
ties while looking after other things
were compelled to leave this important
work with the church and consequently
abuses arose. Complaint was made that
the Hebrew widows were favored above
those OF the Hellenists. The danger aris-
ing and the complaints brought to the
Apostles ears were not to be treated
lightly. Surely the Apostles were not to
neglect their Spiritual labors and give
their time to the organization OF public
charities and looking after the temporal
needs OF those destitute. And SO a new
order arose. The whole church was in
vited to select board consisting Of seven
men of integrity, wisdom and piety to
have the oversight of their business SO
that it might be conducted in an impair
tial manner. And the Apostles were to
give their time to prayer and to the min
istry of the Word.
The Christian ministry was the special
junction of the Apostles. The serving
OF tables was another kind Of function,
evidently important and necessary. But
to combine the two as the duty of one
individual would mean lack of har-
mOny. 1t is just as necessary today as in
the early days Of the church that the
ministry should be free from business dis
traction.
Prayer and the ministering of the Word
should be the very life of the preacher.
Prayer is the medium through which his
mind is enlightened and heart made re-
ceptacle to drink from the fountain OF
truth and only he who drinks deep and
long can administer effectively the truth
to others.
In one Of the great cities of the West
there was, quite recently, church with
small Indebtedness. The pastor had
served through five years of material and
spiritual prosperity. He was a servant
Of God whose life as man. record as q
preacher and the public esteem in which
he was held were all to be admired. Yet
| the people wanted some one who could
raise the money to pay the Indebtedness
and so they notified the minister that
| his services were no longer needed. 1t is
| no misfortune for a minister to have
business ability and some of our best
| business men are found in the ministerial
ranks. Yet no church should expect the
I minister to act the part of a financial
agent. Pastoral writing is a great med
lum through which the preacher can ad
minister the Word. And yet even this
an essential duty in connection with hi.
work, is secondary to the great work o
meetlngthe congregation and expooGd
ing the Word. DR.. John \. Brnatiu:
truthfully said the great duty of thu
preacher was to preach. People go t,
church to hear preaching and goot
preaching alone satisfies them. And tn
best preaching is the plain sill, pile truth
o. Gods Word presented in an impress
>ive and clear style. If the people woul,
get the best the minister is capable c
giving them, then see that his attention
does not have to be given to the sery
ing OF tables, but allow him every or
portunity for preparation for delivering
the Word
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