A minister must be settled before the Lord, committed to serving, saturated with God’s word and yielded to His Holy Spirit, and steadfast in personal purity and doctrine. This will have an impact so that others not only see the minister growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord, but perhaps might be “saved,” either converted to Christianity or strengthened in the faith.

Elder Tim Taylor examined 2 Timothy chapter 4 and explained how we might, like Paul, live a Christ-like life.

Those who are in authority, like ministers are to direct, guide others to Christ. Having been called and established by God, those in authority are equipped by God and He will work through them for the benefit of those in their charge. Therefore, they should speak because God has given them something to say, they should live a life exemplary of Christ, and always present scripture for the maturation of others.

There is ultimately one reason to work hard in ministry, for the Lord and His glory. In so doing, there is a personal benefit that the minister might grow stronger in the Lord. In addition, there is a benefit to others that they might “trust in the living God.”