The energies of the minister are all needed for his high calling. His best powers belong to God. He should not engage in speculation or in any other business that would 366 turn him aside from his great work. "No man that warreth," Paul declared, "entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." 2 Timothy 2:4. Thus the apostle emphasized the minister's need of unreserved consecration to the Master's service. The minister who is wholly consecrated to God refuses to engage in business that would hinder him from giving himself fully to his sacred calling. He is not striving for earthly honor or riches; his one purpose is to tell others of the Saviour, who gave Himself to bring to human beings the riches of eternal life. His highest desire is not to lay up treasure in this world, but to bring to the attention of the indifferent and the disloyal the realities of eternity. He may be asked to engage in enterprises which promise large worldly gain, but to such temptations he returns the answer, "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36.

Der er brug for alle en prædikants kræfter til hans hellige kald. Hans bedste kraft tilhører Gud. Han burde ikke give sig af med spekulation eller nogen anden form for forretning, der kan hindre ham i hans store gerning. "Ingen, som gør krigstjeneste, lader sig indvikle i dagliglivets sysler; hans mål er at vinde anerkendelse hos dem, som hvervede ham." 2Tim. 2,4. Så stor vægt lagde apostlen på, hvor nødvendigt det var for en arbejder at give sig uden forbehold til Mesterens tjeneste. Den prædikant, som helt har viet sig til Gud, afslår at tage del i foretagender, der kan hindre ham i helt og fuldt at overgive sig til sit hellige kald. Han stræber ikke efter verdslig ære eller rigdom, Hans eneste mål er at fortælle andre om Frelseren, der gav sig selv for at bringe mennesker det evige livs rigdom. Hans højeste ønske er ikke at samle denne verdens skatte, men at få de ligegyldiges og de utros opmærksomhed rettet mod evighedens værdier. Han bliver måske opfordret til at deltage i foretagender, der lover stor jordisk vinding, men til sådanne fristelser må han svare: "Hvad gavner det et menneske at vinde den hele verden og at bøde med sin sjæl?" Mark. 8,36.