"Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine [teaching]; continue in them:for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (1 Tim. 4:16).

This passage sets before the workman two deeply important, absolutely essential duties, to which he must give his diligent, constant, prayerful attention if he would be an efficient workman in the church of God_"a good minister of Jesus Christ." He must take heed to himself, and he must take heed to the teaching.

First, then, let us consider the solemn clause, "Take heed to thyself." No language can adequately set forth the importance of this thought. It is, of course, important for all Christians; for the workman, it is especially so, for to’ such it is here particularly addressed. He, above all, will need to take heed to himself. He must guard the state of his heart, the state of his conscience, his whole inward man. He must keep himself pure. His thoughts, his affections, his spirit, his temper, his tongue, must all be kept under the holy control of the Spirit and Word of God. He must be "girt about with truth" and have on "the breastplate of righteousness" (Eph. 6:14). His moral condition and his practical walk must answer to the truth ministered, else the enemy will, most assuredly, get an advantage over him. The teacher ought to be the living exponent of what he teaches. At least this should be his sincere, continuous aim. He should ever keep this holy standard before "the eyes of his heart." Sad to say, the best will fail and come short; but where the heart is true, the conscience tender, and the fear of God and the love of Christ have their due place, the workman will never be satisfied with anything short of the divine standard for his inward state and his outward walk. It will be his earnest desire, at all times, and in all places, to show the practical effect of his teaching; to be "an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in [love], in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Tim. 4:12).

Let it not be supposed, however, that the Lord’s servant should set himself up as a model for those to whom he ministers; or that he should make his own experience the standard of his ministry. An inspired apostle could say, "Be ye followers of me," but where is the preacher or teacher now, who could adopt such language? As to his ministry, he should ever be able to say, "We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake" (2 Cor. 4:5).

May it be, then, the deep-seated earnest purpose and aim of all those who minister in the Word and doctrine to feed upon the precious truth of God; to make it their own; to live and move and have their being in the very atmosphere of it; to have the inward man strengthened and formed by it; to have it dwelling richly in them that thus it may flow out in living power to others.

Now let us discuss the second point in our subject, namely, the doctrine, or teaching, for such is the true force of the Greek word. Oh, how much is involved in this! "Take heed to the teaching." What care is needed! What earnest, constant waiting upon God for the right thing to say, and the right way to say it. God alone knows the state and the need of souls. He knows their capacity. We do not. We may be offering "strong meat" to those who can only bear “milk,” and thus do only harm. "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God" (1 Peter 4:11). He does not say, "according to the oracles of God." A man may rise and speak for an hour, in the assembly, and every word he says may be in strict accordance with the letter of Scripture, and yet he may not at all speak as an oracle of God_as God’s mouthpiece to the people. He may minister truth, but not the truth needed at the time.

We want to sit much at the Master’s feet, to drink deeply into His Spirit, to be in fellowship with His heart of love for the precious lambs and sheep of His flock. Then shall we be in a condition of soul to give the portion of meat in due season. It is not the truth which interests us, but the truth which the assembly needs, that should be given out. We should look simply and earnestly to Him, and say, "Lord, what wouldest Thou have me to say to Thy beloved people? Give me the suited message for them." Then He will use us as His channels, and the truth will flow down from His loving heart into our hearts, and forth from us, in the power of His Spirit, into the hearts of His people.

Oh, that it were thus with all who speak and write for the church of God. What results we might look for! What power! What growth! What manifest progress in the divine life! The true interests of the flock of Christ would then be thought of in all that was spoken or written. Nothing equivocal, nothing strange or startling would be sent forth. Nothing but what is sound and seasonable would flow from the lips or the pen.

“Strive diligently to present thyself approved to God, a workman that has not to be ashamed, cutting in a straight line the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15, J.N.D. trans.).