Ask God to make you a man
Never ask to be a mean, cringing,
fawning thing; ask God to make you a man —
those are scarce things now-a-days — a man who only fears
God, who knows no fear of any other kind. Do not give yourselves up
to any man’s power, or guidance, or rule, but ask of God that you
may have that humility towards him, which gives you the noble
bearing of a Christian before others. Some think that ministers are
proud when they resent any interference with their ministry. I
consider they would be proud if they allowed it for the sake of
peace, which is only another word for their own self-seeking. It is
a great mercy when God gives a man to be free from everybody, when
he can go into his pulpit, careless of what others may think of him.
I conceive that a minister should be like a lighthouse-keeper; he is
out at sea, and nobody can suggest to him that he had better light
his candles a little later, or anything of the kind. He knows his
duty, and he keeps his lamps burning; if he were to follow the
opinions of the people on shore, his light might be extinguished
altogether. It is a merciful providence that they cannot get to him,
so he goes on easily, obeys his regulations as he reads them, and
cares little for other people’s interpretation. So a minister should
not be a weathercock, that is turned by the wind, but he should be
one who turns the wind; not one who is ruled by others, but one who
knows how to stand firm and fast, and keep his light burning,
trusting always in God; believing, that if God has raised him up, he
will not desert him, but will teach him by his Holy Spirit, without
the ever-changing advice of men.
- Charles H. Spurgeon, from sermon
entitled, Pride and Humility
