Wonderful prayer was uttered by David when he cried to the Lord: "Let not them that wait on Thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek Thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel." Ps. 69:6. How could one be more jealous for the honor of God, or show greater love for His people, than is indicated in this prayer? Let not Thy people, O God, be ashamed for my sake, or on account of me. Let not those that seek Thee be brought to dishonor through me.
Here is a lesson worthy of thoughtful consideration by everyone who bears the name of Christ,—that his daily life, not for his own sake alone, but on account of all who love the Lord, shall be such that none who seek God will be put to shame by anything that he may do. This means that the Christian must guard everything that he says and does.
Every worker represents not himself alone, but also the entire church of God. What he does either wins men to God or repels them from His service; his example can never be negative—it is positive always; either it is good or it is bad. The whole church of God is judged by the words and acts of a representative man; the results are far-reaching. The minister cannot act alone. As a church we are one body in Christ, and each preacher represents the church of God on earth. We are all judged by what each member does, or fails to do. This is especially true of a worker, but most of all of a minister.
This thought is often emphasized in the writings of Paul. "Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not: but we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." "Do all things without murmurings and questionings; that they may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world." 2 Cor. 4:1, 2; Phil. 2:14, 15.
No minister can lead a double life, covering up sin, while officiating as an ambassador for Christ, without sooner or later bringing reproach upon the cause of God. Sin will out, hide it as we may. Oftentimes the mistake is a small one to start with; but one step leads to another until there is an accumulation of mistakes that endangers the cause of God and cripples the usefulness of the individual.
Some make mistakes in overspending. It seems almost imperative to have new clothing, some articles of furniture for the home, an automobile, or the like. Credit is easily obtained, and what is desired is often purchased "on time." Unless such obligations are promptly met, these transactions often bring discredit and discouragement. And when a worker is involved, the church of God suffers.
Sometimes workers are not careful of their conduct, and a scandal breaks out. Ofttimes those involved are unconcerned about their influence. They forget the church, and that all who know of their misconduct must bear the shame and reproach. How different the attitude of the psalmist! He thought beyond himself, He kept in mind the church of God, and prayed so to live as not to cause God's people to suffer reproach because of his actions.
Others may do many things that the Christian cannot do. A man may smoke, drink, gamble, cheat, and get money or property by questionable means, and still may not be severely criticized; but the preacher cannot do any of these things. He must live above reproach, and his constant prayer should ever be, "Let not those that seek Thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel."
"None of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself." Here Paul sets forth the fact that we are not separate integers, with no responsibility toward others in life or death. Our lives touch other lives, often unknown to ourselves, and we influence them for good or evil. The contact may be brief, but there is something that goes from us that lifts up or depresses, that inspires for better or for worse.
The minister should remember that he must account for his influence. The psalmist purposed that he would do nothing that would put the family of God to shame. Again and again the apostle to the Gentiles declared that he would live in a good conscience toward all men, so as to commend himself to every man's conscience in the sight of God. To the elders at Ephesus he declared, "Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men." Thus he not only preached the gospel, but he lived it as well. To the church at Corinth he wrote: "Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man." Thus all ministers should live. They should keep themselves pure from the blood of all men, so that no one may say, "I have no confidence in religion because of this man." High standards must be exacted of ourselves to save others.
I. H. E.