The Worker's Study Life

In Gospel Workers we read: "The ministry is becoming enfeebled because men are as­suming the responsibility of preaching without gaining the needed preparation for this work." —Pages 94, 95.

By STANLEY C. HARRIS, Editor of "Our Times," Nashville, Tennessee

In Gospel Workers we read: "The ministry is becoming enfeebled because men are as­suming the responsibility of preaching without gaining the needed preparation for this work." —Pages 94, 95. What a sad indictment ! What a pity that the ministry is becoming enfeebled because of a lack of study and preparation!

First, let me say that the preparation of the heart is primary, and the preparation of the mind, secondary. This fact is also revealed in Gospel Workers, as follows : "Let those who are in training for the ministry never forget that the preparation of the heart is of all the most important. No amount of mental culture or theological training can take the place of this. The bright beams of the Sun of Right­eousness must shine into the heart Of the worker and purify his life, before light from the throne of God can shine through him to those in darkness."—Page 94.

I am deeply convinced that those who are workers for God need to budget their time. We need to have a regular time for prayer and for study, and to permit nothing short of an emer­gency to change this program. Every worker must have a working place that will be con­ducive to study, where children, blaring noises,. and other interruptions will not, enter in to, affect what he is doing. It is important that the study be well ordered and regular. It is more important for him to have the right kind of study setup than it is for him to have the latest model automobile.

A library is one indispensable adjunct in such a study, and it is also necessary to have the proper equipment for filing statements, clip­pings, and other valuable materials. As a mini­mum requirement, I would say it is essential that the worker have the following helps

I. A reliable concordance.

2. Bible commentaries.

3. All the writings of the Spirit of prophecy.

4. Outstanding contemporary periodicals, such as Time, Newsweek, The United States News, World Report, and a reliable newspaper.

5. A growing file of notes, poems, illustrations, statements, and statistics.

6. An encyclopedia is valuable.

As a means of keeping in order the books, clippings, and quotations that should increase through the years, a good filing system is nec­essary. I believe the best there is, based on much experience, is described in the pamphlet Building a Minister's Library, by Elgin S. Moyer, published by the Moody Press, 153 In­stitute Place, Chicago, for 25 cents.

Some like the morning hours, and others prefer the evening for study. The important thing is consistency and regularity. In Gospel Workers we read', "Persons who have not acquired habits of close industry and economy of time, should have set rules to prompt them to regularity and dispatch."—Page 277. We also read that "the bright morning hours are wasted by many in bed. These precious hours, once lost, are gone never to return ; they are lost for time and for eternity."—Ibid., p. 278. Again. we .find that "men of God must be dili­gent in study, earnest in the acquirement of knowledge, never wasting an hour. Through persevering exertion they may rise to almost any degree of eminence as Christians, as men of power and influence."—Ibid.

We know that God has no use for lazy men or time wasters. We should take advantage of every moment that is ours for self-improve­ment. Quoting from Gospel Workers, again : "Take a book with you to read when traveling on the cars or waiting in the railway station. Employ every spare moment in doing some­thing. In this way an effectual door will be closed against a thousand temptations."—Page 279.

I am confident that we can greatly profit by this counsel, and that the majority of us have not reached the heights of attainment that we might reach if we were to follow the instruc­tion laid down for us in the Spirit of prophecy.

"Everyone should feel that there rests upon him an obligation to reach the height of intel­lectual greatness."—Ibid., p. 279. We should "become giants in the understanding of Bible doctrines."—Ibid., p. 281.

When we think of the efforts that are put forth by mechanics, lawyers, merchants, and men of all trades and professions to develop their abilities and understanding, how much more should we, who are doing a work of the greatest importance, be zealously reaching up to greater heights. "It is a lamentable fact that the advancement of the cause is hindered by the dearth of educated laborers. Many are wanting in moral and intellectual qualifications. They do not tax the mind, they do not dig for the hidden treasure."—Ibid., p. 93.

A recently published book entitled The Lay­man Looks at the Minister, by Murray H. Leff­ler, gives the following striking information obtained through taking a poll of men, women. and youth of the Methodist Church. One of the questions asked of them was, "How acceptable will a minister be if he fails to spend adequate time in study?" Over ninety per cent of the people in the pews indicated that inadequate study is a crippling handicap. This book also states :

"Ministers should take cognizance of research on the performance of public-school teachers. It has been discovered that the average teacher increases in ef­fectiveness for the first two or three years, then levels off for the next five years, after which time his work becomes less and less satisfactory. The chief reason for his failure to grow and for his early decline in teaching skills is lack of continued study. The same generalization may apply to ministers who fail to dis­cipline themselves by regular, diligent, intellectual work.

"John Wesley, troubled because some of his minis­ters did not study, included among the questions to be asked at annual conferences one on the subject of the use of time, together with some pungent remarks. These were subsequently incorporated in the first Dis­cipline of the Methodist Church in 1784.

'Question 32. But why are we not more knowing?'

"'Answer. Because we are idle. We forget our very first rule, "Be diligent. Never be unemployed a mo­ment Never be triflingly employed. Never while away time; neither spend any more time at any place than is strictly necessary." . . .

" '(T) Read the most useful books, and that regu­larly and constantly. Steadily spend all the morning in this employ, or, at least, five hours in four and twenty.' —Page 40. (Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, Nashville, 1947.)

Another question asked of the layman in this recent poll was, "How acceptable will a min­ister be . . . if he spends a large part of his time doing repair work on the church buildings and caring for the grounds ?" In discussing this question the author says :

"Laymen are not as much impressed with the min­ister's 'busy work' about the church and parsonage as some pastors suppose. . . . The minister might as well realize that, to be polite, lay people often com­pliment him on his landscaping achievements while they secretly wish he would devote more time to study and sermon preparation."—Pages 41, 42.

This illuminating volume clearly reveals that there is "strong lay condemnation of a minister who 'fails to spend adequate time in study.' "­Page 47. One teacher of mature years had this to say : "This [adequate time in study] is very important. Most ministers are too content to 'coast, doing routine preaching.. The message should be characterized by being spiritual and scholarly—the result of real study and medi­tation."—Pages 47, 48.

In this thorough-going poll it was also dis­covered that the people dislike the reading of sermons or the bringing of books and maga­zines to the pulpit to read. All these facts are enlightening to us and give us food for thought, for after all, people are somewhat the same in all denominations in their likes and dislikes in respect to their ministers.

I am convinced, brethren, that we cannot make efficient and capable workers, whether we preach, teach, write, sell books, give Bible studies, or work in medical lines, if we do not read and study. There are a few exceptional cases of individuals who study too much, but they are a rarity. We must not forget, either, that we should work as well as study and pray. In conclusion, let us read another statement from Gospel Workers:

"Let ministers put the whole heart into the task of searching the Scriptures, and a new power will come to them. . . . My message to ministers,' young and old, is this : Guard jealously your hours for prayer, Bible study, and self-examination. Set aside a portion of each day for a study of the Scriptures and communion with God. Thus you will obtain spiritual strength, and will grow in favor with God."—Pages 98-100.

By STANLEY C. HARRIS, Editor of "Our Times," Nashville, Tennessee

April 1948

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