Chapter 43. Use 2: The Great Honour of Faithful Ministers
Chapter 43 Use 2: The Great Honour of Faithful Ministers Secondly, hence appears the great honour of the ministers of the Gospel in their ministry. We will not attribute this to our persons but to our work. Certainly, if they are committed to the ministry of reconciliation, they are sent about the most honourable business that has ever been in the world: to dispense to the children of men the great mystery of salvation through Jesus Christ.
If a minister is faithful in it, it may be said of anyone whom God uses in this work: "Happy is he that he was ever born, and blessed be the womb that bore him, and the breasts that gave him suck," if he remains faithful in his task. For he is employed in the greatest business that exists in the world; never did God employ angels in a work of greater consequence or one wherein they are more honoured. Ministers are called in Scripture "angels of the churches," for indeed, their work is evangelical.
When speaking of them in 1 Corinthians 4:1, it says, "Therefore, let a man account of us as the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God." Brethren, we could be willing that, for our persons, we should be held in the greatest contempt before you, if the contempt of our persons might further the glory of our work.
However, we know that ordinarily, the contempt of persons hinders the honour of the work. Therefore, as the Apostle says, "Let a man so account of us as the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God."
We are appointed stewards of the mysteries of God, to deal out to you the mysteries of life and salvation. Joseph was held in high esteem when he dealt out the corn in Egypt, and now this work of reconciliation is one that even the angels long to understand. The angels learn instruction from this mystery of reconciliation. Not only does it befit the greatest men in the world to attend to it, but the angels themselves honour it and learn from it.
I will give you a text for this, as it may seem hard to comprehend.
The text is in Ephesians 3:10: "To the intent that now unto principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God." Not only do men, but even the very angels in heaven come to understand more of the wisdom of God in Christ, made known to the Church. Certainly, if the angels come to know more through the Church, it happens especially during church meetings when they gather, and when the ministry of the Gospel is dispensed among the saints. Then, when the Church is engaged in the exercises of the ordinances, they come to understand the manifold wisdom of God.
Although some may consider it foolishness, God says it is "manifold wisdom," and the angels think so too. Certainly, there is no place so full of listeners as one filled with angels who come to hear. Therefore, you should come to hear, for the angels come to hear as well. The Apostle even advises women to behave properly "because of the angels," and the Scripture tells us that the angels "desire to look into" this mystery of the Gospel.
Ministers need not seek honour for themselves in any way, but rather through their faithful administration of the Gospel. In the primitive times, ministers of the Gospel were greatly honoured by the people.
When a soul comes to understand what it is to have peace with God
through Jesus Christ, through any minister's ministry, that soul will honour that ministry enough; the minister needs not call for any honour or respect from that soul.
It is said that, in former times, there were wooden chalices and golden ministers, but later, there were golden cups and wooden ministers. It was a great deal more honour to the Church when there were golden ministers, but when there came to be golden cups and ministers who were more like gallants and enjoyed great means, they might well be called "wooden" in their ability to open the mysteries of salvation to the people.
It is not now so much about preaching mere morality (though these are good things to preach on), but where is the great point of reconciliation? The great point that all ministers ought to aim at is the matter of reconciliation, and it is their commission to preach that especially. Oh, how should this be received and accepted! To us is committed the ministry of reconciliation. What is it? It is a ministry of no less consequence than your reconciliation with God. Oh, how gladly should you receive this ministry, for they come about a work that is worthy of all acceptance. As the Apostle says in 1 Timothy 1:15,
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." This is the essence of the ministry of reconciliation.
When we come to bring this message to you, we do not expect anything but your wholehearted acceptance, to open your hearts and hands to receive this work of reconciliation. As we read of Noah, when he was tossed up and down the sea, after many days he sent forth a dove, and she brought back an olive branch. You know that this is an emblem of peace. Noah opened the window of the ark and took in the dove with the olive branch.
Likewise, all those who come to preach the Gospel to you come with the olive branch in their mouths. You are, as it were, floating up and down on the sea, and we come to you with an olive branch in our mouths, like Noah's dove. Oh, then open your windows and receive it. As the prophet says, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good tidings of peace." As you read in Romans 10:15, their very feet should be beautiful to you. This was prophesied among the prophets and is applied in the New Testament. If you find your hearts opened, accepting of it, rejoicing, and blessing God for it, then you fulfil that prophecy, and the feet of those messengers become beautiful in your eyes.
This is the purpose for which you should come when you come to hear a sermon. You should think, "This day, I am coming to hear something of the work of reconciliation between God and my soul."
When people come to the Word expecting something concerning this peace with God, and when they hear such a message, they should bless the name of God. Some come to the Word to hear witty sentences and for mere discourse, though the main thing you should come to hear is about the reconciliation of God to your souls. You should watch for such a word throughout the sermon, asking, "Oh, but when will the word of peace be opened from God to my soul?"
And when you hear that word, you should embrace it and receive it.
As it says in Psalm 85:8, "I will listen to what God the Lord will say; he promises peace to his people." So should every poor, afflicted conscience say, "I will listen today when Christ will speak peace to my soul." May the Lord, by His Word, speak peace to you and make what we preach in opening the truths of the Gospel a powerful ministry of reconciliation to your souls.