2 Timothy 4:5 But watch you in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry. This word "ministry" does not refer exclusively to what we are accustomed to call the Christian ministry, meaning the teaching and pastoral office in the Church. That is but one of ten thousand forms of ministration or service, which may be rendered to our fellows at the call of God. To minister to any one, is to help or serve him; and so every course of action by which we can help and serve others is a ministry, and every such service is truly a Christian work. And as we cannot all render the same service, but can each render particular kinds of service to particular people — relatives, friends or neighbours — that particular description of service which each of us can render is our "ministry." It is a ministry, the object of whose functions lies without us, in contrast to activities which centre in self as their object. And it is "thy ministry," because it is that particular form of helpful activity which it is open to each, separately, to prosecute. Paul's was different from Timothy's, and neither has belonged to anybody since; nor will your ministry, or mine, ever be allotted to anybody else; for no one will be situated as We are, or have exactly our opportunities. But, in some respects, our ministry is like Timothy's and Paul's. It is directed to the same objects: the spread of Christ's truth and Christ's Church. And we are summoned to it by the same Divine Lord, to whom also we shall reader an account of its discharge; All the high, sublime elements, then, which belonged to their ministry or service in life, belong to ours, though ours may take less striking outward forms, and be rendered with no eye but God's to watch our performance of it. The sublime considerations, moving to fidelity in it, which Paul urged on Timothy, bear, then, on us. "I charge thee before God, make full proof of" — thoroughly fulfil — "thy ministry." (T. M. Herbert, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. |
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