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(continued from preceding page)
 True
godly living, and hunger for souls, have made more good
preachers than all the "degrees" in the land. A desire
to save souls will drive a man to prepare himself academically,
far more often than a degree will send him out to call sinners
to repentance. This drive, "as to the Lord," makes the
difference in genuine kingdom harvesters and timid hands who
"can't do anything else," or extroverts, who preach to
feed their egos.
Preaching
is a full-time job. The man who would preach should
prepare himself to — preach. This is not to say he should have
no knowledge nor interest in other fields. On the contrary, it
seems a man who is conversant with and experienced in a wide
range of subjects is better equipped to reach the public. But he
should keep his outside interests second and servant to his
predominant aim to teach God's word. Singleness of purpose is
the key to success in this as in all other endeavors. Preaching
must be his obsession. Eat it, drink it, talk it, dream it. Pour
on Bible study, church history, word studies, doctrinal issues
etc. Contact people for first-hand information. Go to a
synagogue and talk with a rabbi; sit for a rap session with
college youths; argue Bible with an old timer. Work at
preaching, and you will have little time to sell soap or
insurance.
In
genuine cases where one must "make tents" in order to
preach, I am filled with admiration. And there are secular
businessmen who use their weekends to assist needy churches by
preaching, singing, etc., who should be commended for
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their unselfish use of time. In my book
such men are to be preferred over drones who take full-time
support for golf, social calls, and poorly prepared sermons. But
"mutual edification" and weekend preachers can not
fill the need for full-time; dedicated students and proclaimers
of the word of God.
Preachers
are expendable (Now I'm writing about the man, not his
work.) If he is ready to "spend and be spent" he will
enter each "job" knowing that the brethren who invited
him to come, can invite him to leave. He should read I Cor.
9:14-27 in the quiet of an empty room — and then stare at the
ceiling. The cause of the Lord does not exist to support him,
but he exists to further that cause. Our pride will be hurt when
we are replaced; stingy brethren will go to Hell for failing to
support faithful laborers; but we must not confuse our
"rights" with our selfish desires. Begin to think that
you are indispensable, and you will BE the problem more often
than you solve it.
And
if you are "not in this work for the money" quit
acting like it. Learn to live within your income — no matter
if you can not "dress as well as some members." From
your income set aside your contribution, a modest saving (in
early years can be insurance) and then live on the balance.
Finally,
preachers are people; not kings, pet poodles, or door
mats. We must take correction, practice humility, while
maintaining human dignity. We can not hope to succeed as
preachers if we fail as men — made in God's image —
subject to His divine will.
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