Earnest About the Great Work of Ministry

This morning, Dad and I enjoyed an encouraging conversation about Epaphroditus (see Philippians 2:25-30). I was spurred on by the reminder that he nearly worked himself to death for the cause of Christ's gospel.

Epaphroditus was one of those men that Horatius Bonar described as being "earnest about the great work of the ministry on which they had entered":

They felt their infinite responsibility as stewards of the mysteries of God, and shepherds appointed  by  the  Chief  Shepherd  to  gather  in and watch over  souls. They  lived  and laboured  and  preached  like  men  on  whose lips the immortality of thousands  hung. Everything they did and spoke bore the stamp of earnestness, and proclaimed to all with whom  they came  into contact  that  the matters about which they had been sent  to  speak were of infinite moment, admitting of no indifference, no postponement even for a day. 

Yet their fervour was not that of excitement; it was the steadfast but tranquil purpose of men who felt the urgency and weight of the cause entrusted to them, and who knew that necessity was laid upon  them, yea, woe was unto  them  if  they preached not  the gospel. They felt that,  as ministers  of  the gospel  they dared  not  act  otherwise;  they  dared not throw  less  than  their whole soul  into  the conflict;  they dared not  take their ease or  fold their arms; they dared not be indifferent to the issue when professing to lead on the hosts of the living God against the armies of the prince of darkness.

~From Horatius Bonar's True Revival and the Men God Uses (emphasis mine)