Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

of the same work. They should not fail to adopt it themselves, and should urge it uponall who profess to believe the truth.Ministers should have no separate interest aside from the great work of leadingsouls to the truth. Their energies are all needed here. They should not engage inmerchandise, in peddling, or in any business aside from this one great work. Thesolemn charge given to Timothy rests with equal weight upon them, laying upon themthe most solemn obligations and most fearful responsibilities. “I charge thee thereforebefore God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at Hisappearing and His kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.” “But watch thou in allthings, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”Wrong habits of life have lessened our mental and physical sensibilities, and allthe strength we can acquire by right living and placing ourselves in the best relation tohealth and life should be devoted unreservedly to the work which God has assigned us.We cannot afford to use the few enfeebled, crippled energies which we possess to servetables or to mingle merchandise with the work God has committed to us. Every facultyof mind and body is now needed. The work of God requires this, and no separatebusiness can be engaged in aside from this great work without taking time and strengthof mind and body, and thus lessening the vigor and force of our labor in the cause ofGod. Ministers who do this will not have all that time for meditation and prayer, andall that strength and clearness of mind that they should have to understand the casesof those who need help, and to be prepared to “be instant in season, out of season.” Aword fitly spoken at the right time may save some poor, erring, doubting, fainting soul.Paul exhorted Timothy: “Meditate upon these things;470