Little is known about the minister called Archippus. Perhaps he was a colleague of Epaphras in Colosse, or maybe pastor of the church of Laodicea. All we know is that while Paul was in prison in Rome, writing to the church of Colosse, he identified Archippus as someone who needed one piece of advice, “Take heed to your ministry” (Colossians 4:17). There are after all many reasons why a minister could slack off and become lax in his work. The people he pastors may not show the growth he would like to see after all the labour he has spent on them, or they may actively oppose and undermine him. His own indwelling sin could be getting the upper hand in his soul, and there could be too much love of the world. All these are factors identified by the Covenanting minister William Veitch (1640–1722). Nevertheless, as a pastor himself, Veitch urges his fellow ministers to maintain diligence in their ministry. In the following updated excerpt from his sermon on Colossians 4:17, Veitch gives several reasons why this is so important. These also give material for church members to pray for their pastors.

The preciousness of the work

It is a great trust, far above any other trust in this world, when immortal souls are committed to us. These are the souls about which the thoughts of the Most High have been concerned from eternity, and for whose redemption God manifested in the flesh shed His precious blood, and for whose espousing He has put us unto the ministry.

I think we should never go this errand, without praying like Abraham’s servant (Gen. 24:12). We should pray, “O Lord God and Father of my master Jesus Christ (who has promised Him a great backing and a numerous seed, upon which He may see the satisfaction of the travail of His soul), send me good speed this day, and put forth thy power in the preached gospel, that Thy people may be a willing people!”

O, but it is a high and a great calling to trade about the saving of souls, one of which is a more precious jewel than the whole world can purchase or redeem! (as Christ tells us out of His own mouth; Matt. 16:26.)

Surely of all other persons, ministers should be most diligent, seeing they have both their own souls to save, and others!

The difficulty of the work

The second reason why we must take heed to our ministerial work is because it is a difficult work.

It is difficult partly from the various and numerous enemies that oppose it. Satan, that roaring lion and restless enemy of the Church is standing at our right hand (Zech. 3:1). Also what principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places, and what rulers of the darkness of this world we have to wrestle against! (Eph. 6:12) Indeed, what opposition from those among whom we live, some with open violence breaking down as far as they can the carved work (Psa. 74:6); others with vigour make a pretence of building with us, but like the false apostles, intending nothing less than to bring us back to corruptions which had been abandoned in the house of God.

The work is also made difficult partly from our own ignorance. This disables us from managing this trust to the best advantage. How hard is it for ministers to speak aright to the various cases and conditions of their people, and to find fit words to hold forth the evil of sin, the loveliness of Christ, the beauty of holiness, the danger of living carelessly and unconcernedly under the means of grace, and repeated offers of the gospel!

The danger of going wrong

The third reason why ministers need to take heed to their ministry is that there have been ministers in the Church (and we have had sad instances of it in our days) making a high profession and high claims for Christ and the pure work of reformation, yet who afterwards, when the opportunity and temptation offered, have betrayed the cause, exposed their rottenness, and ruined the Church and work of God, as far as they could. Some of them were betwitched and enticed into doing so by the riches of the world (like Judas and Demas); others by the honours of the world (like Diotrephes). And O! how many are Archippus-like even in the best of times, and are lukewarm and remiss in this great work!

The greatness of the Lord

We must take heed to our ministry, when we consider what a great Lord and master we have received it from. His eye is always on us, to see how we manage this trust, as it was on the angels of the seven churches. The fact that He wrote to them after He ascended, exposing their failures and shortcomings, and the punishments due to them, should be a warning to ministers in all succeeding ages of the Church, to take heed to their ministry.

The weight of a minister’s accountability

We need to take heed to our ministry when we consider what a severe certification our great Lord and master added to it when He committed it to us. “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman to the house of Israel; therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, ‘Thou shalt surely die,’ and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life, the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thy hand” (Eze. 3:17–18).

Ministers need to take heed to manage their trust aright, seeing a severe account will be required of them. It is a stewardship that must be reckoned for, and none of us know how soon that message may be sent unto us, “Give an account of thy stewardship!” (Luke 16:2). Whether we have received more or fewer talents, we would always remember to be laying them out, and improving them, as those that must give an account (Heb. 13:17).

The blessedness of the reward

Lastly, the ministers who have been heedful and faithful shall be greatly rewarded. “They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever” (Dan. 12:3). “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods” (Matt. 24:45–47). “Be thou faithful unto the death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).

We who believe in such a reward as this should keep constantly and closely to this work, and prosecute it with the greatest diligence — it will eternally recompense all the labour and toil of this world.

We should also frequently consider what severe punishments shall be inflicted on the heedless and slothful servant. “But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, ‘My lord delayeth his coming;’ and shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 24:48–51).

FURTHER READING

AUTHOR MENU