Personal Discipline
Ministers should live a life of labor and hard work, avoiding a life of ease and staying committed to their calling.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the necessity of personal discipline in ministry, warning against the temptation for preachers to become complacent and idle due to their lack of oversight. He urges ministers to adopt a rigorous work ethic comparable to that of laborers, stressing that they should not expect an easier life than those who support them. Tozer highlights the importance of running the race of faith with purpose and dedication, aiming for the imperishable crown that God promises. He calls for a return to the original passion that led one to ministry, encouraging a commitment to hard work and faithfulness.
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Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. --1 Corinthians 9:24-25
Another trap into which the preacher is in danger of falling is that he may do what comes naturally and just take it easy. I know how ticklish this matter is and, while my writing this will not win me friends, I hope it may influence people in the right direction. It is easy for the minister to be turned into a privileged idler, a social parasite with an open palm and an expectant look. He has no boss within sight; he is not often required to keep regular hours, so he can work out a comfortable pattern of life that permits him to loaf, putter, play, doze and run about at his pleasure. And many do just that.
To avoid this danger the minister should voluntarily impose upon himself a life of labor as arduous as that of a farmer, a serious student or a scientist. No man has any right to a way of life less rugged than that of the workers who support him. No preacher has any right to die of old age if hard work will kill him. God Tells the Man Who Cares, 94-95.
"Lord, I entered the ministry not because I considered it an easy or prestigious job. I'm here because I was called, compelled, and committed. Help me to work hard and faithfully today, driven by that original sense of passion. Amen."
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Personal Discipline
- A Life of Labor
- Avoiding the Trap of Ease
- The Call to Hard Work
Key Quotes
“No man has any right to a way of life less rugged than that of the workers who support him.” — A.W. Tozer
“Lord, I entered the ministry not because I considered it an easy or prestigious job. I'm here because I was called, compelled, and committed.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Ministers should be committed to a life of hard work and labor, just like those who support them.
- Personal discipline is essential for staying accountable and responsible in the ministry.
- A life of ease can lead to spiritual complacency and a lack of passion for one's calling.