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When the advice "don't put all your eggs in one basket" seeps into ministry, danger lies ahead. "Keeping your options open" is a recipe for disaster for the minister of God, making whole-hearted devotion to Christ an even greater mountain to climb.
Recent Entries
God? Who Needs Him?May 31, 2013
Self-sufficient humanism. Paul saw it coming – “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”
Imago Dei
September 12, 2012
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Why Can't I Pray?
August 18, 2012
The bible gives us several reasons, but according to Jeremy Taylor, a deceitful heart is at the root of prayerlessness.
It's Not Rocket Science
July 23, 2012
To keep in step with the Spirit should be our daily quest. And if we are successful at that, all of life falls into place.
Theological Steak
April 10, 2012
These words by P. T. Forsythe on the magnificence of Christ's work are to theology what Ruth's Chris is to a good steak.
Describing the Indescribable
February 11, 2012
What we have in Christ will take all eternity to describe. But for one segment of one sermon, a great preacher made a mighty attempt.
Making Sense Of It All
January 30, 2012
Where are things headed? Is there rhyme and reason to the endless cycle of summer, fall, winter and spring? Is there a plan in place, or is randomness the explanation?
Keeping The Main Thing The Main Thing
November 9, 2008
Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62
What constitutes "looking back?" Certainly regret is implied. "Did I make the right choice? I didn't know it would be this hard. Maybe I made a mistake."
Paul was a tentmaker for a while, but we never get the impression that he considered opening up a chain of stores called TENT CITY! He knew what his calling was, and he never seemed to make a ministry decision based on whether it would affect his tent sales.
In fact, he seems concerned for his young disciple Timothy in his second letter to him, that Timothy is in danger of losing his focus. After all, Demas, who "loves this present world," had deserted him. And so this advice....
Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs - he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. 2 Timothy 2:3-7
Listen to some wise advice from the famous London pastor of the second half of the 19th century, Charles Haddon Spurgeon:
For us to turn aside from our life-work, and to seek distinction elsewhere, is absolute folly. A blight will be upon us, we shall not succeed in anything but the pursuit of God's glory through the teaching of the word.
"This people have I formed for myself," God says, "they will show forth my praise." And if we will not do this we shall do less than nothing. For this one thing we are created, and if we miss this we shall live in vain.
Good Dr. Wayland, the other day, walking in my garden, saw the swans out o the water, and he remarked that they were the true representation of persons who are out of their proper sphere, and attempt to do what they were never made for. How ungainly the swans are on land, they waddle in a ridiculous manner. But as soon as hey are in the water how gracefully they glide along. Each one is the model of a ship, the image of beauty. Every line about it is perfect.
So it is with a man who is content to find in the ministry waters to swim in. As God's sent servant he is everything that is beautiful. But as soon as he dabbles in trade, or becomes a secular lecturer, or seeks his own aggrandizement, he ceases to be admirable, he often becomes notorious, and is always awkward.
Brethren, you are not meant for anything but God, therefore surrender yourselves to God, and find in him your wealth, your honor, and your all. If you do this, you shall be the head, not the tail. But if you start aside you shall be lightly esteemed.
Let the fire of perfect consecration be heaped upon you, for so shall you glow and shine like molten silver, which brightens amid the heat. let us not subject ourselves to the shame and eternal contempt which will be the portion of those who quit the service of their Redeemer for the bondage of self-seeking. He that saveth his life loseth it, but he that loseth his life for Christ's sake shall find it unto eternal life.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Romans 12:11
What constitutes "looking back?" Certainly regret is implied. "Did I make the right choice? I didn't know it would be this hard. Maybe I made a mistake."
Paul was a tentmaker for a while, but we never get the impression that he considered opening up a chain of stores called TENT CITY! He knew what his calling was, and he never seemed to make a ministry decision based on whether it would affect his tent sales.
In fact, he seems concerned for his young disciple Timothy in his second letter to him, that Timothy is in danger of losing his focus. After all, Demas, who "loves this present world," had deserted him. And so this advice....
Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs - he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. 2 Timothy 2:3-7
Listen to some wise advice from the famous London pastor of the second half of the 19th century, Charles Haddon Spurgeon:
For us to turn aside from our life-work, and to seek distinction elsewhere, is absolute folly. A blight will be upon us, we shall not succeed in anything but the pursuit of God's glory through the teaching of the word.
"This people have I formed for myself," God says, "they will show forth my praise." And if we will not do this we shall do less than nothing. For this one thing we are created, and if we miss this we shall live in vain.
Good Dr. Wayland, the other day, walking in my garden, saw the swans out o the water, and he remarked that they were the true representation of persons who are out of their proper sphere, and attempt to do what they were never made for. How ungainly the swans are on land, they waddle in a ridiculous manner. But as soon as hey are in the water how gracefully they glide along. Each one is the model of a ship, the image of beauty. Every line about it is perfect.
So it is with a man who is content to find in the ministry waters to swim in. As God's sent servant he is everything that is beautiful. But as soon as he dabbles in trade, or becomes a secular lecturer, or seeks his own aggrandizement, he ceases to be admirable, he often becomes notorious, and is always awkward.
Brethren, you are not meant for anything but God, therefore surrender yourselves to God, and find in him your wealth, your honor, and your all. If you do this, you shall be the head, not the tail. But if you start aside you shall be lightly esteemed.
Let the fire of perfect consecration be heaped upon you, for so shall you glow and shine like molten silver, which brightens amid the heat. let us not subject ourselves to the shame and eternal contempt which will be the portion of those who quit the service of their Redeemer for the bondage of self-seeking. He that saveth his life loseth it, but he that loseth his life for Christ's sake shall find it unto eternal life.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Romans 12:11
