THE RULE FOR A SERVANT IS SERVICE FIRST NO. 2

THE RULE FOR A SERVANT IS SERVICE FIRST NO. 2

You are quite right in counting on my interest in everything concerning you, and I am glad that I have you on my heart daily I may say before the Lord.

You have evidently two duties. One to your family, and another as the Lord’s servant, and as J.N.D. says, ‘You cannot have two objects at the same time.’ I have constantly seen and marked that where a servant went to a place considering his family (though right in itself), that he did not promote his higher calling, that of a servant. But when that of a servant was simply before his mind, the Lord ordered suitably for his family. The way for a servant is to see where his service would be turned to most account, and then to seek in that place for the most suited ‘southern aspect’ for his family. I am afraid of servants seeking places for health, etc. I believe the Lord can find out a sheltered spot for them, because He remembereth ^[p. 141] our frame; but a servant must be led of the Lord to the place where he can best fulfil his service. My impression is that you are being led into a very suitable neighbourhood, but you must remember the trying and testing place it is to be placed among comparatively poor people, when the commonest thing in your house will appear in their eyes grand and worldly. Among one’s own class, what appears common and shabby, even to a coat, appears in the eyes of those who have not as good a one something to be coveted, and when the pastor has anything in him or about him to provoke to envy, he is defective. Alas! you may say, how defective we all are! and this really accounts for the little power there is to be a pastor. A resident servant must be more or less a pastor or bishop, or at least it is desirable that he should be. I feel the poorest man ought not to envy anything in my house or ménage, all should be so simple and so plain; but the difficulty is, that what appears to oneself and one’s old acquaintances common to a degree, is not so to your chief companions now. This is a real difficulty to a resident servant. The conscientious evade it by evangelising, and thus the great, grand object of our calling is merged. Through grace we have been led into the truth of the church of God. In a word, church truth ought to be the most conspicuous thing about us in any and every service. When an evangelist preaches it should be as belonging to a new corps, the church of God; though his gift be that of an evangelist, he has a higher duty, and that is to maintain “the testimony of the Lord, nor of me his prisoner” (2 Timothy 1: 8). If this be not maintained, you will never be in the state of the bride. I feel pleased at your projected move. The Lord keep you and fit you more and more for His service, and with kindest love to you and yours, etc.

I hope you may soon be set free. Many years ago you desired it. Was I wrong in not encouraging it then? I trust the time has come now. There is great need for David’s mighty men in this day. Men devoted to David. The nation gains from their services, but they are thinking of David.