When the steward studies the good pleasure of the ploughman, or
We are stewards, and not masters, and hence we must trade in
our Master's Name, and not in our own. It is not ours to fabricate a
religion, but to proclaim one; and even that proclamation is not to be
made by our own authority, but it is ever to be based on that of our
Lord. We are "laborers together with Him." If a brother sets up in
business for himself, he will make a mess of it, and fall into spiritual
bankruptcy before long. His credit will soon run out when his
Master's Name is gone. We can do nothing in our heavenly
merchandise without our Lord. Let us not attempt to act on our own
account, but keep our place near our Chief in all lowliness of mind.
2. We may become false to our trust by acting as men-pleasers.
When the steward studies the good pleasure of the ploughman, or
the whims of the servant-maid, everything must go wrong, for
everything is out of place. We are influenced by one another, and we
influence one another. The greatest are unconsciously affected in
some measure by the least. The minister must be overwhelmingly
influenced by the Lord his God, so that other influences may not
warp him from his fidelity. We must resort continually to
headquarters, and receive the Word from the mouth of the Lord
Himself, so that we may be kept straight and true; otherwise, we
shall soon be biased, although we may not be aware of it. There must
be no holding back to please one person, no rushing forward to
satisfy another, no moving an inch even to gratify the whole
community. We must not harp upon a certain string to win the