Every word of scripture is given for each child of God for their profit in godliness (2Tim 3:16,17). There are topical passages within the scriptures whose instruction is specifically for a particular office, or perhaps gender, for example, but whose principle of instruction is still applicable for all the saints. In fact, the essence of both of Paul’s letters to Timothy is a Pastoral charge. We recognize, then, the verses given in the heading as particular to the office of the gospel minister. However, all of Christ’s sheep would each do well to benefit from the powerful instruction implored by Paul to Timothy.

Having met with the apostles after His resurrection and dined with them on natural food, Christ teaches the spiritual analogy of this act as He engages Peter in the following abbreviated dialogue: “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these…Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep…[and again He saith] Feed my sheep…[and yet again He saith] Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17). The saint is in the same need for spiritual sustenance and enrichment for the health of their souls as are their bodies for natural food. They must be fed. No enlargement of duty could be made more demonstrative than that which Christ charged to Peter. Three times the Lord questions Peter’s love to Him. With each affirmative answer from Peter, Christ makes requisite his duty to “feed my sheep.” But it was upon this third inquiry that Peter became ‘grieved’ because of the continual questioning from Christ as though the sincerity of  Peter’s love was not what he claimed; especially might he have been grieved remembering his own denial of the Lord three times. Peter,   however,   appeals   to   Christ   with   great   warmth and earnestness saying, “Lord thou knowest all things, thou knowest I love thee.”  He solemnly casts the final test of the truth of his love at the omniscient feet of His Master, ‘Lord thou knowest I love thee; not because I say so, but because thou art the searcher of all hearts (1Chr.28:9; Rom.8:27) and Thou knowest I love thee!’ No one can be qualified to feed the sheep of God who does not love Christ more than any earthly advantage or himself. This being true, then the first and great calling of the minister, as Christ Himself proclaimed, is to feed His sheep and lambs whom He purchased with great price. If God’s people are not fed by the preaching and ministering of the gospel under the auspice of the pastor, then where spiritual sustenance is expected to be found in store, instead a famine of soul, sickness of understanding, and derelict of obedience are in operation, or very possibly soon will be. It is no wonder Paul earnestly implores Timothy in our passage under consideration, “give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee…meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them” vs.13-15. He continues the same theme in his second epistle, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God…” 2Tim.2:15. The Great Commission by Christ demands a great desire, devotion and dedication to the scriptures always with the inclination toward the instruction of its holy content, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations...teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” How often the soul, especially young to the faith, questions itself as did Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch, “Understandest thou what thou readest?” and the ready answer is, “how can I except some man should guide me?” (Acts 8:27-35). Dear reader, the preaching of the gospel is the ordained means for delivering the truths of Christ to the world. He that preaches the gospel proclaims the same glorious message now as did the Angel to the shepherds, “I bring you good tidings of great joy!” (Luke 2:10-14); and when visited by Christ through this message, the saints are set on fire and cry out to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us…while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32). The minister must accomplish, largely through the preaching of the gospel, a careful oversight of the welfare of the souls of the saints (Heb. 13:17).

What an incomparable weight of duty! The minister of the gospel surely feels the most pungent sense of accountability. When understood aright, this work cannot be compared by any other employment in the importance of its success (vs 16), or the consequences of its failure: for they must give account, or a record, to God of their soul-watching (Heb. 13:17).

The word minister means servant; this he must be in all that he performs to the church in particular and to all men in general as he is given opportunity. But notice in our passage. Before the preacher prepares his service to others, he must first tend to the preparations of his own soul. Observe the frequency and insistence by which Paul guides Timothy’s attention to himself before the concerns of others is mentioned: (you) give attendance to reading…; Neglect not the gift that is in thee; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting might appear to all; for in doing this thou shalt save thyself (first) and them that hear thee vs.12-16.

Paul instructs Timothy exactly how to succeed and how to avoid failure in this great duty. He tells Timothy what to do, “give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee”; and then how to do it, “meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them…Take heed to thyself and unto the doctrine; continue in them.” The preparation of the minister’s own soul must first be settled before sermons are preached or devotions given. When accomplished, the minister will glean most richly from his studies in the scriptures and from the supplication of his prayers as he prepares his office of servitude to the people of God. In Paul’s summation in verse 16 of this charge, he exhorts Timothy to “Take heed unto thyself”, or as expressed in Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.” A closer study into these passages and their compliment to one another presents a beautifully composed caution to us all as well as the ministry: ‘guard first the monumental center or core of all that you feel, desire and understand; for this is what you become as it becomes how you live. Do this, and you will be able to protect, preserve and make whole your life and those to whom you minister. Fail in this and you shall fail in both.’

The work and duty of Ministerial responsibilities seems perhaps more fitting for the shoulders of angels than it does men. But Wisdom knows best into which hand the plow is made ready for work. And so, like David, the minister must ‘prepare with all his might for the house of God’ (1Chron. 29:2). But let all the saints take heed. The church must fashion itself to be reared up as Solomon’s pillars for the house of the Lord, one on the right hand and one on the left hand, to support the weight of all the workings of that building (2Chron. 3:17). Let the whole body of the church be of such support. Pray for them which have the oversight, that their ministry of the word may have free course and be glorified! (2Thess. 3:1). Oh, may we be found faithfully entreating God for our pastors, and our own duty of personal study of the scriptures that we might receive the word with all readiness of mind being confirmed and confirming that what we hear is so! (Acts 17:11). Let us gather at the Throne of Grace and diligently solicit for the work of our pastors: for their private study that their minds might be opened to the understanding of the scriptures; for their hearts to be guided toward the most suitable subjects; that their gifts might be increased and they have a door of utterance given them to preach the Gospel freely and boldly; and that this gospel message would be a blessing of great joy to saints and sinners in need. That they succeed in fulfilling the great charge of their Master, “Feed my Sheep.”

“…as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” – Romans 10:15