Galates 4:11

I am afraid of you.

A minister’s fears

I. What are those fears?

1. Lest his word should not issue in conversions.

2. Lest the converted members of his flock should not adorn their profession.

3. Lest his converts should apostatise.

II. What is his duty in the presence of these fears?

1. To labour on in spite of them.

(1) They may be groundless,

(2) or if only too well grounded, he is not responsible.

2. Not to allow them to generate despair. The worst sinner may yet be converted and the worst backslider reclaimed.

3. To do all he can, with God’s help, to prevent failure.

III. What are his encouragements in the face of these fears?

1. That he has been working for God’s glory.

2. That God is responsible for results.

3. That in spite of appearances to the contrary God’s word will not return unto Him void.

Conclusion: How sad to be the subject of these fears.

1. Unconverted.

2. Inconsistent.

3. Backsliding.

At one point in Dr. Bang’s ministry he became greatly discouraged, and attempted to leave his work. A significant dream relieved him. He thought he was working with a pickaxe, on the top of a basaltic rock. His muscular arm brought down stroke after stroke for hours, but the rock was hardly indented. He said to himself at last, “It is useless; I will pick no more.” Suddenly a stranger of dignified mien stood by his side, and said, “You will pick no more?” “No.” “Were you not set to do this task?” “Yes.” “Why then abandon it?” “My work is in vain; I make no impression.” Solemnly the stranger replied, “What is that to you? Your duty is to pick, whether the rock yields or not. Your work is in your own hands; the result is not. “Work on.” He resumed his task. The first blow was given with almost superhuman force, and the rock flew into a thousand pieces. He awoke, returned to his work, and a great revival followed. (A. Stevens, LL. D.)

Pain of fruitless labour

Dr. Talmage says, “I remember visiting a military prison where they punish men by making them carry cannon-balls from one end of the yard to the other, and the sergeant who accompanied me said: ‘When we made the men carry the balls from this end of the yard to the other to make a pyramid at the other end there was a kind of amusement in it, because they were building up this pyramid; and so we made an alteration, and the man has to carry the ball from this end of the yard to the other and back again, and his toil seems to be so altogether fruitless, that it becomes a double punishment to him.’“ Even so it is a source of bitter pain to an earnest minister to feel that his laborious efforts for the good of his hearers are after all in vain.