“If we are competent merchantmen in the business of the Church we shall limit our schemes, and we shall operate them to the last ounce of our strength. We shall not waste and squander our power in twenty scouting excursions, but we will use it in sinking one or two good mines, and working them with noble and persistent exploration. If the pulpit is your mine, don’t play with it, work it night and day. If the Sunday School is your mine, sink your shaft deeper and deeper, open out new seams and veins of treasure, and let the mine abundantly justify itself by its products. Whatever may be your mind, put your strength into it. I am a strong believer in a very few schemes, but tried to the utmost; I believe in a very few mines, but worked for all they are worth. The life of our day tempts us to diffuse. We are tempted to have too many irons in the fire, and we don’t beat any one of them to final ‘shape and use.’ Gentlemen, have a few well-designed and well-proportioned schemes. Don’t lose yourself in dreams. Lay your hands upon a few things, and hold on to them like grim death, and make them pay daily tribute to the Lord your God. Master something. Finish something, or be still working away at it when the Lord promotes you to higher service. That was the Master’s way. ‘I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do.’ He ‘set His face’ steadfastly to it, nothing drew Him aside, and He finished it. And this, too, was the way of the Apostle Paul. ‘This one thing I do.’ His life and work were controlled by a glorious concentration, and he held on to his grace like a hound that has found the trail. Follow his inspired example. Don’t be forever itching after novelties. Don’t be continually shifting your ground” (J.H. Jowett, The Preacher: His Life and Work, 1912). Comments are closed.
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