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THE HOUSEHOLDER
IT is of importance to all, but especially to those who are to teach others, that they understand clearly the mysteries of the Gospel. An ignorant minister, like an empty cloud or a leaky vessel, disappoints those who expect consolation and refreshment from him. But a well-instructed Scribe or minister resembles a housekeeper or steward, who, having made good provision for the family, feeds them to the full. With this comparison our Lord gave his attentive and intelligent disciples, a view of the office which would in due season be committed to them. The resemblance of every such minister to a householder may be traced in that,
I. He is provided with all things necessary for the family over whom he is placed—
A steward, or householder, has the charge of providing for the family. He considers not only what is wanting at the present moment, but what will be wanted on future occasions; and he preserves for future use the productions of foreign climes, or of successive seasons. Thus every pious minister labours to provide for the Church of God.
1. He makes himself acquainted with the wants of all his people—
[The Church, over which he is made an overseer, is God’s family. To supply their returning wants is his peculiar duty. Hence he is led to reflect upon their various states. He contemplates the difficulties and dangers to which they are exposed, the trials and temptations which they have to sustain, and the consolations and supports which they severally need; and thus he endeavours to learn what will be most suitable to their respective cases.]
2. He lays up in store what he may afterwards bring forth for their use—
[The Scriptures are the grand repository of sacred knowledge. These therefore he searches with all diligence, and “treasures” up with care. But while he furnishes his mind with “old things,” he is observant also of “new.” What he daily sees, or hears, or feels, is added carefully to his stock. Thus his knowledge becomes enlarged by observation, and matured by experience; and his fund of information is suited to the necessities of all to whom he ministers.]
In prosecuting his work,
II. He dispenses seasonably to each according to their respective wants—
A householder, or steward, furnishes out of his store what is wanted for daily use, and apportions to all the branches of the family what is suited to their respective stations. Thus a well-instructed minister demeans himself in the Church of Christ:
1. He gives to all an agreeable variety—
[Though Christ and his salvation be the great topic of his discourses, he descends, on proper occasions, to many other subjects connected with it. He opens the mysteries of the “Old” Testament, and illustrates them by the “New.” He declares what God has asserted in his word, and confirms it by appeals to acknowledged facts, and to the experience of all around him. And though “it is not grievous to him to repeat” the great truths of the Gospel, he endeavours continually to diversify them in his statements, and to give them an air of novelty in his illustration of them.]
2. He administers to each his proper portion—
[To those whose growth in grace enables them to digest strong meat, he explains the deep mysteries of religion, and the more hidden parts of Christian experience. To those who can only feed on milk, he contents himself with proposing simply the great doctrines of our fall in Adam, and our recovery by Christ, together with the life of faith on Christ Jesus. he considers the peculiar experiences incident to different states, and discriminates between that which is correct, and that which is delusive, in them all. He gives the cup of consolation to the drooping penitent, or doubting believer, but holds forth the waters of jealousy to those who are of suspicious character [Note: Num_5:11-31.]. Thus, neither disabled by ignorance nor kept back by sloth, neither bribed by affection nor deterred by fear, he “gives to each his portion of bread in due season.”]
Infer—
1. The vast importance of the ministerial office—
[If we had only to provide for the body, it were but a small matter; but the souls of thousands depend on those who minister in holy things. Well may we say, “Who is sufficient for these things [Note: 2Co_2:16.]?” May all who have undertaken the office of the ministry, have grace to qualify themselves for it with unremitting diligence, and to execute it with undeviating fidelity!]
2. The benefit arising from it to the Church—
[How ill supplied would every member of a family be, if each were left to provide for himself; and how injurious would such a distraction be to their respective callings! Much more would these inconveniences be felt, if there were no stated ministry. People are sadly ignorant of the Gospel, notwithstanding all their advantages: but, without a stated ministry, they would soon degenerate into very heathens. Let all then be thankful that the Master of the family has appointed stewards to make suitable provision for them. Let them pray that their ministers may be taught of God to teach others [Note: This, together with that which follows, may be amplified in a way of direct address.]; and let them improve with diligence the ordinances dispensed among them.]