One of the richest and most rewarding books I have read this year has been Charles Bridges’ The Christian Ministry: With an Inquiry into the Causes of Its Inefficiency. Towards the beginning of his book, Bridges quotes Augustine when he said that “the work of gospel ministry is more fitting to the shoulders of angels than of men” (Onus Angelicis humeris formidandum). He continues with his introduction to the preparation of ministry with a solemn paragraph. Whether you are a “full time” minister or not, allow this quote to sink in today.
“The influence of selfish or secular motives awfully blinds the conscience to the sense of the present necessity, and to the anticipation of the daily account; while young men of ardent feelings and promising talents, but with unfurnished minds and unrenewed hearts, are thrust forward by the persuasion of injudicious friends, or by the excitement of some momentary bias, into the sacred office. The Church has severely suffered from this woeful inconsideration; and the victims of this self-deluding impetus have felt to their cost its bitter fruit in the disappointment of their Ministry, and the discomfort–if not the ruin–of their own souls. In other cases, the precious time for gathering in the store has been either wasted in feebleness and sloth; or misapplied in studies which have no direct tendency to form a solid, judicious, and experimental Ministry; so that, with every advantage of deliberation, but a slender stock of spiritual or intellectual furniture is ready to meet the successive and daily increasing demands.”
– Charles Bridges, The Christian Ministry, 32.