Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Ministry and teaching are distinct callings, and those given to the one are to devote themselves faithfully to that work with practical, active service rather than idleness or reaching for something greater. Each person receives his own gift and line of service according to grace and ability, so one is fitted for one kind of work and another for another. All are many members of one body in Christ, and perfection does not require them to be alike but to fill their appointed place and join their varied gifts together in unity. This forbids thinking of self more highly than ought to be thought, exalting one gift above others, or seeking to dominate and rule over fellow workers. Diligent faithfulness in the appointed work, done in brotherly love, humility, and reliance on God, brings the blessing and success of the Holy Spirit, while neglect leaves discord and withholds the power God would impart.
Place in Romans
Romans 12:7 belongs to instruction of high value that serves as a history for all churches and carries the work of God to a higher plane of action. It stands upon presenting the body a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, being transformed and not conformed to the world, and thinking soberly and not more highly of self than ought to be thought. Thinking soberly means according to the measure of faith, wearing Christ's yoke and drawing under His leading in union and cooperation with brethren rather than striving to be a distinct whole by personal plans and ideas. Being transformed comes by the renewing of the mind, which is the foundation for keeping to one's own appointed work without trying to bear rule over others.
It is one of many principles for the conduct of Christians toward one another, calling each member of the heavenly family to stay faithfully at his own work of ministering or teaching so as to help and strengthen one another on the way to heaven. The instruction also calls believers to use their gifts in love and to serve the Lord. This order is given so that those brought together in church capacity may be united understandingly and intelligently and strive to be one as Christ is one with the Father, with love without dissimulation, abhorring evil, cleaving to good, and preferring one another in honor. Being many members one of another, believers are to strengthen no evil work by pen or voice, show unity of action in obedience to God, and be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love.
The whole chapter gives lessons for all to study in order to understand and know God's will and to increase in faith and righteousness by growing up in Christ the living Head. Its principles must be carefully studied and done in small matters as well as large. They must be brought into daily life, where living them makes men true believers while spurious faith is exposed by daily character. Those who have put on Christ are transformed by the renewing of their minds and prove by experience the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Men appointed by God to minister and teach will not be sustained unless they are doers of His Word, working humbly and seeking wisdom from Him who is high and lifted up.
Gifts of Grace
Ministry and teaching are distinct gifts and offices given according to the grace given to each person, with each one to fill his own place by giving full attention to that ministering or teaching. They carry a special work to be done in the churches for the individual members, to be attended to faithfully with no haphazard work, in love and in service to the Lord. No one is to suppose his special gift is above all other gifts, but all gifts are to be connected with the gifts of others and appreciated as essential for the advancement of the cause, so that the sons of God represent Him and His cause in the midst of rebels and enemies by whom the will of God is neglected and His honor despised, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation. Together they help make the church a light to the world, and diligent faithfulness in one's appointed gift, practiced with unity, brotherly love, kindly affection, honor to others, and diligence, is required above all at this time in the history of the earth. Failure in this leaves professing Christians in discord and strife, dishonors God, withholds the power He would be pleased to impart, and keeps Him from glorifying His name before the world and before the heavenly universe, because church members are not doing the work they should do.
God assigns to every member his own work and particular line of service according to ability, every man, woman, and child having a work to do in His moral vineyard. One is fitted for one class of work and another for another class of work, one fitted to do a certain work, another adapted to a different work, and another to a still different line, so not all have the capability to do the same work to the best advantage, and all blend together in a complete whole. Each has individual responsibility humbly to take up and stay in the work that presents itself instead of leaving it for something greater, and each should carry out his own service rather than interfere with a fellow worker's distinct work. No one is to regard herself individually as capable of being a complete whole, but all who labor together are to put forth special effort in union with the Holy Spirit to blend together in the work, taking time to understand each other, finding points of resemblance, being a help to one another and one supplying the lack of another instead of standing apart to watch and criticize and judge each other. Where one has keener perceptions in some things than another, this is to be accepted and appreciated, and due credit is to be given to each one's ability.
The gifts are placed by the Holy Spirit, sent by Christ to make real in lives what Christ made possible through His death, and they are received as fully as the Spirit chooses to impart them. Ministry and teaching are among a variety of gifts given to build the temple of the Lord, and the instruction about them is plain for the church in every place. Each gift is to be brought in and find its proper place so all grow together into an holy temple in the Lord, improved and joined together in service like threads forming one pattern, as members of one body under Christ, loving one another as brethren and being kind and courteous. No one person has every ability or enough wisdom to manage the work alone, and no one is to shut himself within himself, but everyone is to wait on his own work of ministering or teaching while different gifts and minds work together, and all may have a part in preparing a people for Christ's coming.
Faithful Appointed Work
One called to ministering is to wait on ministering, and one called to teaching is to wait on teaching, devoting himself faithfully to his own distinct work rather than doing it haphazardly. Ministry and teaching are separate gifts and offices given by grace for service in the church, and those who have them are to give themselves to carrying them out in practical, active service rather than idleness or passivity. This is one of many principles for the conduct of Christians toward one another, calling each member of the heavenly family to stay faithfully at his own work so as to help and strengthen one another on the way to heaven, using gifts in love and serving the Lord. The duty rests especially on those laboring in ministry and in medical-missionary lines, yet it is of vital importance to everyone, for members differ in gifts and responsibilities yet belong to one another and serve together in the one body of Christ, and together the gifts help make the church a light to the world.
Each person has individual responsibility, according to the ability given him, humbly to take up the work that presents itself and stay in it instead of leaving it for something greater. Those given ministry must wait on ministering and those given teaching must stay on teaching, relying continually on God and heeding His directions. Humble ministering and visiting must not be left out of dissatisfaction or desire to be teachers and leaders and to carry larger responsibilities, for that humble work is just as important in its place as teaching, leading, and larger responsibilities.
Faithfulness requires meekness learned from Christ, presenting the all-sufficiency of Jesus to benefit humanity. The visiting work of speaking sympathy and encouragement and leading people quietly to a correct understanding of Scripture demands much grace, much patience, and an ever-increasing stock of wisdom. When done in this way, relying on God and following His directions, the work goes on to success and perplexity is saved, and though working for the Master in this age is not easy, the work goes to success when each fulfills his part.
Unity in Diversity
Members differ in gifts and responsibilities, with ministering and teaching as distinct offices and gifts given according to grace, yet all are many members of one body in Christ and members one of another, called to devote themselves faithfully to their own work with no haphazard work and to serve together in unity, thinking soberly and not more highly of self than ought to be thought. This order is given so that those brought together in church capacity may be united understandingly and intelligently and strive to be one as Christ is one with the Father, with love without dissimulation, abhorring evil, cleaving to good, and preferring one another in honor. The church's perfection does not require its members to be alike; each is to take a proper place and do the work appointed and suited to the gift and ability given.
No one is to suppose his special gift is above all other gifts, but all gifts are to be connected with the gifts of others and appreciated as essential for the advancement of the cause. No one person, however experienced or qualified, whether teacher, physician, or minister, is a complete whole by himself, and no one man is to do the whole work or hold everything in his own hands. God has given to every man, woman, and child a work to do in His moral vineyard, one fitted for one line and another adapted to a different work and to a still different line, with each to be the complement of the others. Different gifts and minds are to work together, and all may have a part in preparing a people for Christ's coming.
These gifts are to be improved and joined together in service, like threads forming one pattern, as members of one body under Christ. Believers do not all labor in the same way or say the same things; their different work, words, minds, talents, and methods complement one another and bring harmony, while each fills his own special God-given sphere of action. God gives people different abilities and callings, so church members should work together in different lines of service rather than expect everyone to work in the same way. Different work and different minds are needed in the church, and believers should help one another so that what one lacks is supplied by another.
God ordained association in service so that the varied talents of many minds are blended, contact of mind with mind quickens thought and increases capabilities, and the deficiencies of one laborer are made up by the special gifts of another. Laborers are to put forth special effort in union with the Holy Spirit to blend together in the work, taking time to understand each other, finding points of resemblance, being a help to one another and one supplying the lack of another instead of standing apart to watch and criticize and judge each other. Where one has keener perceptions in some things than another, this is to be accepted and appreciated, and due credit is to be given to each one's ability. When physicians and teachers thus associated unite in imparting their knowledge, the youth under their training receive a symmetrical, well-balanced education for service.
Each should carry out his own service rather than interfere with a fellow worker's distinct work, for the work given to one person differs from the work given to another. Each is to stay in his own gift without submerging his individuality in another, with free hearty unity of action and shared responsibilities, because one train of thought will not reach all hearts and men of humblest ability will reach hearts sealed against greater ability. Superiority that refuses to link up with others must be crushed.
Humility Over Domination
The verse forbids thinking of self more highly than ought to be thought and forbids trying to bear rule over others. Ministry and teaching are differing gifts given according to grace, with each member having his own office in one body in Christ while all are members one of another, and the one called to minister is to give himself to ministering and the one called to teach to teaching, thinking soberly according to the measure of faith. This order is given so that those brought together in church capacity may be united understandingly and intelligently and strive to be one as Christ is one with the Father, with love without dissimulation, abhorring evil, cleaving to good, strengthening no evil work by pen or voice, showing unity of action in obedience to God, and being kindly affectioned with brotherly love in honor preferring one another. The differing functions belong to the unity of the body and are to be exercised without self-exaltation, in a spirit of love and mutual regard.
All who hold a position in the church to act as shepherds must in their ministering and teaching represent the great Shepherd. They are to wear Christ's yoke and draw under His leading in union and cooperation with brethren rather than striving to be a distinct whole by their own plans and ideas. As the perfection of the physical body depends on the perfection of the individual organs, so the perfection of the spiritual body depends on each member faithfully doing his own appointed work, and continuing in usefulness requires practicing this instruction with a changed, humble, self-denying attitude.
Masterly working power that dominates and rules, charging the Lord's people what they shall do and shall not do, is a strange and dangerous element, is not of God, is another gospel, is not the righteousness of Christ, is a spoil to the church, and must no longer be allowed. Men appointed to minister and teach are in positive danger, for Satan tries by every device to weaken them by leading them to become exalted in their own opinion and so give the enemy power over them, and they will not be sustained unless they are doers of the Word in small matters as well as large. God, who is high and lifted up, will use men as His instruments as long as they will work humbly, seeking wisdom from Him. No one man, however experienced or qualified, is to do the whole work or hold everything in his own hands, and superiority that refuses to link up with others must be crushed, since different minds, talents, and methods are essential and one train of thought will not reach all hearts.
The verse is a caution and exhortation to publishing-house workers, physicians, nurses, and ministers who cherish wrong tendencies and need converted intellects, daily conversion, and Christ dwelling within, presenting their bodies a living sacrifice and being transformed by the renewing of the mind. Studied prayerfully it reveals the gifts to the church that make it the light of the world. Continuing in usefulness in ministry and teaching requires a changed attitude and keeping self under control, with practicing them making it possible to reach the standard of perfection, past success not lost if the warning is heeded, and intelligent, pure, cordial belief in the grace of Christ which brings salvation to all placing feet on the eternal Rock.
Practice and Fruit
Diligent faithfulness in one's appointed gift, practiced with unity, brotherly love, kindly affection, honor to others, and diligence, is required above all at this time in the history of the earth. Failure to practice it leaves professing Christians in discord and strife, dishonors God, withholds the power He would be pleased to impart, and keeps Him from glorifying His name before the world and before the heavenly universe, because church members are not doing the work they should do. Living the verse makes men true believers while spurious faith is exposed by daily character, preparing a people to meet God through family religion and holiness, through pure words of sympathy, tenderness, and love, and when called for through reproof and sharp rebuke to bring back those out of the right way, so that moral renovation takes place and souls do not perish in sin.
Studied prayerfully, the verse reveals the gifts that make the church the light of the world, with ministry and teaching as distinct gifts given for service to be devotedly carried out. Physicians too are to speak and teach health-reform principles, instructing others how to work and sharing light with the world. When physicians and teachers thus associated unite in imparting their knowledge, the youth under their training receive a symmetrical, well-balanced education for service. Even those with limited religious or intellectual training have work to do when they serve humbly and trust in God, for God gives people work suited to their abilities and assigns useful work to each. Each gift is to be valued and rightly used for the holiness and happiness of His people and for preparing a people for Christ's coming.
A living church is a working church in which every converted person unites his varied gift with others in practical active service rather than idleness, laboring harmoniously together each in his own special God-given sphere to save souls and win sinners to Christ, showing missionary courtesy, hospitality, and zeal, with grace for every worker. The do-nothing position robs the church of vitality. Continuing in usefulness requires practicing the instruction with a changed, humble, self-denying attitude and keeping self under control, which makes it possible to reach the standard of perfection, keeps past success from being lost when the warning is heeded, and places feet on the eternal Rock through intelligent, pure, cordial belief in the grace of Christ that brings salvation to all. When ministers love as brethren, hide self in Christ, keep unity of action in obedience to God, strengthen no evil work by pen or voice, and go forward unitedly with devotion, prayer, and communion with God, the Holy Spirit sustains their labor and gives success in winning souls.
Ministry and teaching are distinct callings, and those given to the one are to devote themselves faithfully to that work with practical, active service rather than idleness or reaching for something greater. Each person receives his own gift and line of service according to grace and ability, so one is fitted for one kind of work and another for another. All are many members of one body in Christ, and perfection does not require them to be alike but to fill their appointed place and join their varied gifts together in unity. This forbids thinking of self more highly than ought to be thought, exalting one gift above others, or seeking to dominate and rule over fellow workers. Diligent faithfulness in the appointed work, done in brotherly love, humility, and reliance on God, brings the blessing and success of the Holy Spirit, while neglect leaves discord and withholds the power God would impart.
Place in Romans
Romans 12:7 belongs to instruction of high value that serves as a history for all churches and carries the work of God to a higher plane of action. It stands upon presenting the body a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, being transformed and not conformed to the world, and thinking soberly and not more highly of self than ought to be thought. Thinking soberly means according to the measure of faith, wearing Christ's yoke and drawing under His leading in union and cooperation with brethren rather than striving to be a distinct whole by personal plans and ideas. Being transformed comes by the renewing of the mind, which is the foundation for keeping to one's own appointed work without trying to bear rule over others.
It is one of many principles for the conduct of Christians toward one another, calling each member of the heavenly family to stay faithfully at his own work of ministering or teaching so as to help and strengthen one another on the way to heaven. The instruction also calls believers to use their gifts in love and to serve the Lord. This order is given so that those brought together in church capacity may be united understandingly and intelligently and strive to be one as Christ is one with the Father, with love without dissimulation, abhorring evil, cleaving to good, and preferring one another in honor. Being many members one of another, believers are to strengthen no evil work by pen or voice, show unity of action in obedience to God, and be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love.
The whole chapter gives lessons for all to study in order to understand and know God's will and to increase in faith and righteousness by growing up in Christ the living Head. Its principles must be carefully studied and done in small matters as well as large. They must be brought into daily life, where living them makes men true believers while spurious faith is exposed by daily character. Those who have put on Christ are transformed by the renewing of their minds and prove by experience the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Men appointed by God to minister and teach will not be sustained unless they are doers of His Word, working humbly and seeking wisdom from Him who is high and lifted up.
Gifts of Grace
Ministry and teaching are distinct gifts and offices given according to the grace given to each person, with each one to fill his own place by giving full attention to that ministering or teaching. They carry a special work to be done in the churches for the individual members, to be attended to faithfully with no haphazard work, in love and in service to the Lord. No one is to suppose his special gift is above all other gifts, but all gifts are to be connected with the gifts of others and appreciated as essential for the advancement of the cause, so that the sons of God represent Him and His cause in the midst of rebels and enemies by whom the will of God is neglected and His honor despised, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation. Together they help make the church a light to the world, and diligent faithfulness in one's appointed gift, practiced with unity, brotherly love, kindly affection, honor to others, and diligence, is required above all at this time in the history of the earth. Failure in this leaves professing Christians in discord and strife, dishonors God, withholds the power He would be pleased to impart, and keeps Him from glorifying His name before the world and before the heavenly universe, because church members are not doing the work they should do.
God assigns to every member his own work and particular line of service according to ability, every man, woman, and child having a work to do in His moral vineyard. One is fitted for one class of work and another for another class of work, one fitted to do a certain work, another adapted to a different work, and another to a still different line, so not all have the capability to do the same work to the best advantage, and all blend together in a complete whole. Each has individual responsibility humbly to take up and stay in the work that presents itself instead of leaving it for something greater, and each should carry out his own service rather than interfere with a fellow worker's distinct work. No one is to regard herself individually as capable of being a complete whole, but all who labor together are to put forth special effort in union with the Holy Spirit to blend together in the work, taking time to understand each other, finding points of resemblance, being a help to one another and one supplying the lack of another instead of standing apart to watch and criticize and judge each other. Where one has keener perceptions in some things than another, this is to be accepted and appreciated, and due credit is to be given to each one's ability.
The gifts are placed by the Holy Spirit, sent by Christ to make real in lives what Christ made possible through His death, and they are received as fully as the Spirit chooses to impart them. Ministry and teaching are among a variety of gifts given to build the temple of the Lord, and the instruction about them is plain for the church in every place. Each gift is to be brought in and find its proper place so all grow together into an holy temple in the Lord, improved and joined together in service like threads forming one pattern, as members of one body under Christ, loving one another as brethren and being kind and courteous. No one person has every ability or enough wisdom to manage the work alone, and no one is to shut himself within himself, but everyone is to wait on his own work of ministering or teaching while different gifts and minds work together, and all may have a part in preparing a people for Christ's coming.
Faithful Appointed Work
One called to ministering is to wait on ministering, and one called to teaching is to wait on teaching, devoting himself faithfully to his own distinct work rather than doing it haphazardly. Ministry and teaching are separate gifts and offices given by grace for service in the church, and those who have them are to give themselves to carrying them out in practical, active service rather than idleness or passivity. This is one of many principles for the conduct of Christians toward one another, calling each member of the heavenly family to stay faithfully at his own work so as to help and strengthen one another on the way to heaven, using gifts in love and serving the Lord. The duty rests especially on those laboring in ministry and in medical-missionary lines, yet it is of vital importance to everyone, for members differ in gifts and responsibilities yet belong to one another and serve together in the one body of Christ, and together the gifts help make the church a light to the world.
Each person has individual responsibility, according to the ability given him, humbly to take up the work that presents itself and stay in it instead of leaving it for something greater. Those given ministry must wait on ministering and those given teaching must stay on teaching, relying continually on God and heeding His directions. Humble ministering and visiting must not be left out of dissatisfaction or desire to be teachers and leaders and to carry larger responsibilities, for that humble work is just as important in its place as teaching, leading, and larger responsibilities.
Faithfulness requires meekness learned from Christ, presenting the all-sufficiency of Jesus to benefit humanity. The visiting work of speaking sympathy and encouragement and leading people quietly to a correct understanding of Scripture demands much grace, much patience, and an ever-increasing stock of wisdom. When done in this way, relying on God and following His directions, the work goes on to success and perplexity is saved, and though working for the Master in this age is not easy, the work goes to success when each fulfills his part.
Unity in Diversity
Members differ in gifts and responsibilities, with ministering and teaching as distinct offices and gifts given according to grace, yet all are many members of one body in Christ and members one of another, called to devote themselves faithfully to their own work with no haphazard work and to serve together in unity, thinking soberly and not more highly of self than ought to be thought. This order is given so that those brought together in church capacity may be united understandingly and intelligently and strive to be one as Christ is one with the Father, with love without dissimulation, abhorring evil, cleaving to good, and preferring one another in honor. The church's perfection does not require its members to be alike; each is to take a proper place and do the work appointed and suited to the gift and ability given.
No one is to suppose his special gift is above all other gifts, but all gifts are to be connected with the gifts of others and appreciated as essential for the advancement of the cause. No one person, however experienced or qualified, whether teacher, physician, or minister, is a complete whole by himself, and no one man is to do the whole work or hold everything in his own hands. God has given to every man, woman, and child a work to do in His moral vineyard, one fitted for one line and another adapted to a different work and to a still different line, with each to be the complement of the others. Different gifts and minds are to work together, and all may have a part in preparing a people for Christ's coming.
These gifts are to be improved and joined together in service, like threads forming one pattern, as members of one body under Christ. Believers do not all labor in the same way or say the same things; their different work, words, minds, talents, and methods complement one another and bring harmony, while each fills his own special God-given sphere of action. God gives people different abilities and callings, so church members should work together in different lines of service rather than expect everyone to work in the same way. Different work and different minds are needed in the church, and believers should help one another so that what one lacks is supplied by another.
God ordained association in service so that the varied talents of many minds are blended, contact of mind with mind quickens thought and increases capabilities, and the deficiencies of one laborer are made up by the special gifts of another. Laborers are to put forth special effort in union with the Holy Spirit to blend together in the work, taking time to understand each other, finding points of resemblance, being a help to one another and one supplying the lack of another instead of standing apart to watch and criticize and judge each other. Where one has keener perceptions in some things than another, this is to be accepted and appreciated, and due credit is to be given to each one's ability. When physicians and teachers thus associated unite in imparting their knowledge, the youth under their training receive a symmetrical, well-balanced education for service.
Each should carry out his own service rather than interfere with a fellow worker's distinct work, for the work given to one person differs from the work given to another. Each is to stay in his own gift without submerging his individuality in another, with free hearty unity of action and shared responsibilities, because one train of thought will not reach all hearts and men of humblest ability will reach hearts sealed against greater ability. Superiority that refuses to link up with others must be crushed.
Humility Over Domination
The verse forbids thinking of self more highly than ought to be thought and forbids trying to bear rule over others. Ministry and teaching are differing gifts given according to grace, with each member having his own office in one body in Christ while all are members one of another, and the one called to minister is to give himself to ministering and the one called to teach to teaching, thinking soberly according to the measure of faith. This order is given so that those brought together in church capacity may be united understandingly and intelligently and strive to be one as Christ is one with the Father, with love without dissimulation, abhorring evil, cleaving to good, strengthening no evil work by pen or voice, showing unity of action in obedience to God, and being kindly affectioned with brotherly love in honor preferring one another. The differing functions belong to the unity of the body and are to be exercised without self-exaltation, in a spirit of love and mutual regard.
All who hold a position in the church to act as shepherds must in their ministering and teaching represent the great Shepherd. They are to wear Christ's yoke and draw under His leading in union and cooperation with brethren rather than striving to be a distinct whole by their own plans and ideas. As the perfection of the physical body depends on the perfection of the individual organs, so the perfection of the spiritual body depends on each member faithfully doing his own appointed work, and continuing in usefulness requires practicing this instruction with a changed, humble, self-denying attitude.
Masterly working power that dominates and rules, charging the Lord's people what they shall do and shall not do, is a strange and dangerous element, is not of God, is another gospel, is not the righteousness of Christ, is a spoil to the church, and must no longer be allowed. Men appointed to minister and teach are in positive danger, for Satan tries by every device to weaken them by leading them to become exalted in their own opinion and so give the enemy power over them, and they will not be sustained unless they are doers of the Word in small matters as well as large. God, who is high and lifted up, will use men as His instruments as long as they will work humbly, seeking wisdom from Him. No one man, however experienced or qualified, is to do the whole work or hold everything in his own hands, and superiority that refuses to link up with others must be crushed, since different minds, talents, and methods are essential and one train of thought will not reach all hearts.
The verse is a caution and exhortation to publishing-house workers, physicians, nurses, and ministers who cherish wrong tendencies and need converted intellects, daily conversion, and Christ dwelling within, presenting their bodies a living sacrifice and being transformed by the renewing of the mind. Studied prayerfully it reveals the gifts to the church that make it the light of the world. Continuing in usefulness in ministry and teaching requires a changed attitude and keeping self under control, with practicing them making it possible to reach the standard of perfection, past success not lost if the warning is heeded, and intelligent, pure, cordial belief in the grace of Christ which brings salvation to all placing feet on the eternal Rock.
Practice and Fruit
Diligent faithfulness in one's appointed gift, practiced with unity, brotherly love, kindly affection, honor to others, and diligence, is required above all at this time in the history of the earth. Failure to practice it leaves professing Christians in discord and strife, dishonors God, withholds the power He would be pleased to impart, and keeps Him from glorifying His name before the world and before the heavenly universe, because church members are not doing the work they should do. Living the verse makes men true believers while spurious faith is exposed by daily character, preparing a people to meet God through family religion and holiness, through pure words of sympathy, tenderness, and love, and when called for through reproof and sharp rebuke to bring back those out of the right way, so that moral renovation takes place and souls do not perish in sin.
Studied prayerfully, the verse reveals the gifts that make the church the light of the world, with ministry and teaching as distinct gifts given for service to be devotedly carried out. Physicians too are to speak and teach health-reform principles, instructing others how to work and sharing light with the world. When physicians and teachers thus associated unite in imparting their knowledge, the youth under their training receive a symmetrical, well-balanced education for service. Even those with limited religious or intellectual training have work to do when they serve humbly and trust in God, for God gives people work suited to their abilities and assigns useful work to each. Each gift is to be valued and rightly used for the holiness and happiness of His people and for preparing a people for Christ's coming.
A living church is a working church in which every converted person unites his varied gift with others in practical active service rather than idleness, laboring harmoniously together each in his own special God-given sphere to save souls and win sinners to Christ, showing missionary courtesy, hospitality, and zeal, with grace for every worker. The do-nothing position robs the church of vitality. Continuing in usefulness requires practicing the instruction with a changed, humble, self-denying attitude and keeping self under control, which makes it possible to reach the standard of perfection, keeps past success from being lost when the warning is heeded, and places feet on the eternal Rock through intelligent, pure, cordial belief in the grace of Christ that brings salvation to all. When ministers love as brethren, hide self in Christ, keep unity of action in obedience to God, strengthen no evil work by pen or voice, and go forward unitedly with devotion, prayer, and communion with God, the Holy Spirit sustains their labor and gives success in winning souls.