Mutual Blessing

2.   Blessed is the congregation whose pas­tor preaches the doctrines, for they shall be built up in the faith. The outstanding preacher Paul says, "Take heed unto thy­self, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (1 Tim. 4: 16). Blessed indeed is the congregation whose pastor preaches doctrine.

3.   Blessed is the congregation whose pas­tor diligently studies the Word, for they shall be spiritually fed. Many congrega­tions have been greatly strengthened through the years because of ministers who have been deep students of the Word. In a day when there are so many divisive forces and when some people run after the so-called new light, it is more important than ever that we study diligently. Some ministers don't have time to study because they are using most of their time looking after administrative affairs of the church. Some don't have time to study because they don't know how to improve their time. Some don't take time to study and pray because they feel that they are working for God only when their legs or the wheels of their cars are in motion.

A young Canadian minister remarked one day to a friend of his that preaching was no problem to him. He said, "I have often written a sermon and caught a salmon before breakfast." His friend re­plied, "All I can say is that I had rather eat your salmon than listen to your ser­mon." Evangelist Torrey said, "Study, study, STUDY the one Book and preach, preach, PREACH the one Book and teach teach, TEACH the one Book, the Bible, the only Book that has power to gather, and hold, and bless the crowds for any great length of time."—Quoted in HAROLD L. CALKINS, Master Preachers, p. 97. Blessed is the congregation whose pastor studies the Word, for his congregation will be fed.

4.   Blessed is the congregation whose pas­tor has a sensible and consecrated wife, for they shall be glad in her presence. Many a minister has had more than or­dinary success because of his wife's dedica­tion, devotion, and good judgment. Others have done below-average work because the wife didn't manifest an interest in her hus­band's calling, nor was she interested in the people. The minister is a leader and a shepherd. There are a variety of sheep in every flock. Some are lame and can't walk very well. Some are healthy and others are sick. Some are young and foolish, others are old and set in their ways; yet the pas­tor—the shepherd—loves them all and never shows partiality to any specific group. The wife, too, must keep this in mind and never show preference to any sheep. She should not associate with the healthy only. The surest and quickest way for the wife to ruin her husband's influ­ence, and hers too, with the congregation is to attach herself to a certain kind of sheep commonly known as a church clique. Church cliques, if a pastor or wife belongs to them, have an uncanny way of keeping the conference moving van transferring workers from one church to another.

It is my personal conviction, also, that it is not possible to be an ideal pastor's wife and at the same time put in full time in a chosen profession. It is well for a minister's wife to have a profession, but so long as her husband is alive and is a pastor, the two should work together, for both have been called into the ministry. His work is quite largely out in the field; her work is quite largely in the home. The tensions of a minister, which are many, cannot be re­lieved much if both he and his wife work all day and come home in the evening weary and worn and too tired to be decent to each other. The minister's wife should recognize that her husband's career is her career; his profession is her profession; his success is her success; and his failure is her failure.

Incidentally, I wish to state here that a minister has an obligation to his wife and family. Many times we are so anxious for success that we fail in the most important part of our work—the work in our own homes with our own families. This is our first responsibility, and we cannot wave it aside lightly saying we are too busy. This excuse will hardly stand up in the day of judgment. If we are too busy to give atten­tion to our own companions and children, we probably should never have stood at the altar promising to "cherish and love." Let's keep that promise. Blessed is the con­gregation whose pastor has a dedicated wife, for certainly they will be glad in her presence.

5. Blessed is the congregation whose pas­tor is a shepherd, for they shall receive lov­ing and tender care. There are experiences in the ministry that have a tendency to make us act like wolves rather than sheep. If we are not careful, we might become revengeful. There are times when we meet with stubborn people. There will be ob­stinate church councils. We will come in contact with church politicians. There will be members who seem to have only one goal in life, namely, to vex our soul and test our patience to the limit. But be of good courage; there are very few of these. In spite of these ministerial afflictions, we must exhibit the spirit of the shepherd. We must love. Remember that "love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen" (1 Cor. 13:7, 8).*

Henry Drummond said in his hook The Greatest Thing in the World: Where Love is, God is. He that dwelleth in Love, dwelleth in God. God is Love. Therefore love. . . . Lavish it upon the poor, where it is very easy; especially upon the rich who often need it most; most of all upon our equals, where it is very difficult, and for whom perhaps we each do least of all. There is a difference between trying to please and giving pleasure. Give pleasure. Lose no chance of giving pleasure. For that is the ceaseless and anonymous triumph of a truly loving spirit.--Pages 31, 32.

We must be more than cold, calculating administrators; we should be warmhearted, lovable men of God. We must be more than high-powered go-getters; we should be God-powered soul winners. We must be more than good loyal committeemen; we should be God's loyal committeemen. We must be more than strong, efficient church­men; we should be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Andrew Bonar was one of three brothers, all Presbyterian ministers. They did their work about a hundred years ago and left an enviable record for future generations. Long after Mr. Bonar's death someone de­cided to write a biography of that man. He went to his daughter, now an old lady, and asked what her earliest recollections were of her father as a pastor. She then told him how, when she was a small child, her father took her along to church one day, placed her in the back pew with her dolls, and told her to keep them quiet because she was in the house of the Lord. After some time she got a bit restless and she looked around and saw her father at the front of the church. He had just gotten up from his knees; tears were running down his cheeks; and he came toward the rear of the church and looked for a name. Evidently he found the name he was seeking, for he stepped into one of the pews again, dropped on his knees, and prayed. The daughter said, "I dared not speak. It seemed God was in the place." Then she went on to say that her father did this many times that morn­ing. She forgot to play with her dolls and watched her father. She said, "That day I got my first and real impression of him as a pastor. I had heard him preach many times, but then I was seeing him weep over the erring ones of his flock, for my father was a shepherd." Blessed is the congrega­tion whose pastor is a shepherd, for they will receive loving and tender care.

The preacher Clovis Chappell relates an experience that he had when he was a young minister, which is rather to the point. He said he was sent out to be a pas­tor of a university church. His first service was absolutely terrifying. His oldest brother, a choice and scholarly man, was present. This brother's heart was already bleeding for the young man, and young Clovis didn't want to make it bleed any more by mistakes he might make. The pres­ident of the university was also there. He had the habit of looking down at his shoes. He did this morning. Never once did he lift his eyes unto the hills from which the young preacher tried to bring him help. To make matters worse, there also was present that morning the pompous bishop. The chariot wheels drove heavily all dur­ing the sermon. This was indicated by the fact that at the close of the service one of the saints came forward and told him how many times he had scratched the left side of his head with his right hand. Said Chap­pell, "I don't know how many times it was, but I do know that the number was out of all proportion to the way my head was itch­ing. I did not enjoy the criticism but since then I have sought to reduce pulpit scratch­ing to a minimum."—Anointed to Preach, pp. 32, 33.