Marks of a Good Minister

Marks of a Good Minister

While Scripture plainly sets forth the qualifications of elders, no such list is given for preachers. Paul in I Timothy 4:6-16 provides a concise summary of the preacher's life and work. The preacher who conforms to these instructions will be a good minister of Christ Jesus.

1. A good minister is first of all a servant for that is the very meaning of the term diakonos. In his work he serves God, the church and his fellow man. Jesus taught that "whosoever would become great among you shall be your servant" (Matthew 20:26-27). He who seeks glory, honor and special treatment should not be in the pulpit.

2. He will put his brethren in mind of God's truth (I Timothy 4:6a). The Greek suggests, not to issue orders, but to counsel and advise. Paul recommends the opposite of the drill sergeant who barks his orders in a pugnacious way.

3. He finds his own spiritual nourishment in the gospel which he always follows (I Timothy 4:6b). No teacher can effectively give out without first taking in. A good minister is a habitual student, feeding and strengthening his soul day by day. "Nourished" is a present participle and suggests continuing activity. The day a preacher ceases to study he begins to atrophy and die.

4. He refuses the profitless theories of false teachers (I Timothy 4:7a). He has no time for myths and speculations. Human traditions are vain (Matthew 15:9). Human philosophy is deceitful (Colossians 2:8). Such have no vital relationship to salvation.

5. He exercises himself unto godliness (I Timothy 4:7b). As an athlete trains his body, so the preacher trains his soul. Even Paul had to discipline himself to keep his body in subjection lest he be rejected (I Corinthians 9:27). Spiritual growth never just happens, it must be conscientiously developed.

6. His hope is set on the living God (I Timothy 4:10). A preacher whose hope is set on a higher salary, a larger congregation or brotherhood recognition needs to revise his values. The deluded sectarians who proclaimed that their God was dead could never be good ministers with hope set on the living God.

7. He labors and strives in his ministry (I Timothy 4:10a). The word "labor" suggests to work energetically to the point of weariness. A lazy man has no business in the ministry. Truly Paul said it is "the work of an evangelist" (II Timothy 4:5). The public delivery of the sermons and classes is but the culmination of a week of study and preparation. Add to this, visiting, the evangelizing, the problem solving, the exhorting, consoling and counseling and one begins to appreciate the work of a good minister.

8. He commands respect by his exemplary conduct (I Timothy 4:12). Some might despise his youth if he is young, but his mature Christian conduct will command respect. Plato responded to false accusations by saying, "Well, we must live in such a way that all men will see that the charge is false." Most attacks are best answered this way. A good minister is an example in word. His speech will always be with grace, seasoned with sale (Colossians 4:6). His manner of life will "be worthy of the gospel" (Philippians 1:27). Toward all he will reflect agape love, i.e., an unconquerable benevolence that seeks the good of others, regardless of how they treat him. He will exhibit faithful loyalty to Christ. His moral life will exhibit purity and allegiance to Jesus' standards. The Roman governor Pliny wrote to emperor Trajan of his Christian subjects. "They are accustomed to bind themselves by an oath to commit neither theft, nor robbery, nor adultery, never to break their word, never to deny a pledge that has been made when summoned to answer for it." The world will have little use for Christianity until it produces the best people in society. A good minister will be the best citizen in his community.

9. He gives heed to reading, exhorting and teaching (I Timothy 4:13). While his private reading is indispensable, it seems that here he refers to the public teaching of the church. Scripture should be publicly read as in the synagogue, men should be exhorted to obey its precepts, and doctrines should be taught and explained. A good minister will never scrimp on the amount of scripture used in his lessons. Good sermons don't just happen, rather they are the result of giving much heed.

10. He earnestly and diligently gives himself wholly to his work (I Timothy 4:15). A good minister has one grand aim in living: preaching the gospel! Any less commitment results in mediocrity. In I Kings 20:35-40 we read of a "servant who was busy here and there" and allowed his prisoner to escape. So have many preachers failed in their responsibility to God because they were too busy here and there with a hundred trivial jobs. A good preacher cannot be the errand boy and maintenance man of the congregation.

11. He takes heed to himself and his teaching (I Timothy 4:16). Self examination and approval are essential to faithful service (II Corinthians 13:15).

12. His progress is evident to all (I Timothy 4:15). Preachers must grow or fossilize. A congregation will outgrow a static preacher. If, however, a preacher is to continually grow in his knowledge and ability, the flock must be willing to cooperate by helping him to do so.

13. He saves souls for the Lord (I Timothy 4:16). All else looks to this one chief end. Are souls being brought to salvation? Without this nothing else matters. Oratorical power, knowledge of Bible languages, expansive scholarship are but sounding brass and clanging symbols if in the end no sinners are brought to repentance.

"Oh God: help every preacher to be a good minister in your sight, and help every Christian to encourage him to that end." In Jesus name.

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