always remember this; and it is a very pitiful business when the
We are also said to be STEWARDS. What are stewards? That is
our office. What is required of stewards? This is our duty. We are not
now speaking of anybody outside, but of you, brethren, and myself;
therefore, let us make a personal application of all that is said.
1. First, a steward is a servant, and no more. Perhaps he does not
always remember this; and it is a very pitiful business when the
servant begins to think that he is "my lord." It is a pity that servants,
when honored by their master, should be so apt to give themselves
airs. How ridiculous Jack-in-office makes himself! I do not refer now
to butlers and footmen, but to ourselves. If we magnify ourselves, we
shall become contemptible; and we shall neither magnify our office
nor our Lord. We are the servants of Christ, and not lords over His
heritage.
Ministers are for churches, and not churches for ministers. In our
work among the churches, we must not dare to view them as estates
to be farmed for our own profit, or gardens to be trimmed to our own
taste. Some men talk of a liberal polity in their church. Let them be
liberal with what is their own; but for a steward of Christ to boast of
being liberal with his Master's goods, is quite another matter. As
stewards, we are only upper servants; and may the Lord maintain in
us the spirit of hearty obedience! If we do not carefully keep our right
place, our Master will not fail to chide us, and give our pride a taking
down. How many of our afflictions, failures, and depressions, arise
out of our being unduly lifted up! I feel sure that no man, who is