Commentary Upon Colossians 1 and 2, Chapter 1 · Verse 29
VERSE 29. Wereunto I alſo labour, ſtriving according to His working which worketh in mee mightily.
HItherto of that which the Apoſtle affirmeth of himſelfe and Timothy, or his fellow Apoſtles together: Now followeth that which he affirmeth particularly of himſelfe alone; which is, that he aimed at this marke, labouring with hard and ſore labour, (for ſo doth the word ſignifie) uſing great endeavour and contention, as they doe that ſtrive for the beſt gaine. Where, beſides that which hath beene before obſerved, we learne; That the worke of the miniſtery, being rightly performed, is a painefull and carefull worke, full of hard labour and much ſtriving. Hence they are compared to harveſt labourers: to ſouldiers, 2 Tim. 2.4, 5. and to thoſe that ſtrive for maſteries. 1 Tim. 4. They are charged to preach, to be inſtant in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon. Surely the ſweat of the Miniſtery exceeds the ſweat of other callings; and with the ſoreſt labourer, the Miniſter eates his bread in the ſweat of his browes. 1 Theſſ. 5.12. Now we beſeech you brethren, know them which labour among you. Men ordinarily will not know them, nor know their labour: Yet GOD Himſelfe takes notice of it for a labour. Revel. 2.2. I know thy workes and thy labour. God acknowledges the Epheſian Angels labour. The Elders that rule well, 1 Tim. 5.17.let them be counted worthy of double honour, eſpecially they that labour in the Word and doctrine. We ſhall finde, 1 Theſſ. 2.9. two ſore words joyned together, foreign; Yee remember our labour and our travell. The paſtorall toile in the cure of Soules, is no leſſe than was Iacob's in keeping of Labans ſheepe, Gen. 31.40.
To ſtop the fouleſt mouthes of ſuch perſons, Vſe that cry downe the miniſtery for an idle calling, and account Miniſters of all other men to live the moſt eaſie lives. It is to be confeſſed, that of many Miniſters it may be ſayd, as our Saviour ſpeakes of lillyes. Math. 6.28. They labour not. But the point is not, what is the labour of ſome perſons, but of the calling and office. And yet indeed many may be ſayd to labour hard enough, and yet are guilty of idleneſſe: We laboured day and night, viz. even with our hands: So farre goe many with Saint Paul; painefull and laborious in worldly affaires, but remiſſe and moſt careleſſe in the worke of their miniſtery to build up the Church of God, and to edifie the people committed to their care and charge.
See then ye Paſtors what the Lord requireth of you, Vſe 2 and be inſtructed in your duty, to be painefull, faithfull and carefull: acquit ye like men, and diſcharge the truſt put upon you;1 Pet. 5.4. that When the Arch-Pastor ſhall appeare, yee may of Him receive an incorruptible Crowne of glory.
And you people committed to their charge, Vſe 3 how carefull God is of your ſalvation, who requireth ſuch a deale of labour, care, ſtriving, &c. in thoſe that He appointeth ouer you. And you that have ſuch, magnify the goodneſſe of God in giving them, and ſtrengthen their hands and encourage their hearts unto the worke of their miniſtery. And you that want them pray for ſuch, and for remooving of thoſe that are unſufficient and ſcandalous.
Finally, that no man might attribute any thing to himſelfe, to his owne vertue and power, as if he had done all theſe things; he attributes it wholly unto God, ſaying, it was according to his working, which worketh in mee mightily.
Obſerve: The love, Doct. diligence and faithfulneſſe of a Miniſter in the labour of his calling, is from Gods gracious working in us, and is to be aſcribed wholly to Him.
Wherefore where theſe things are not, Vſe 1 let them be earneſtly asked at his hand who giveth freely and upbraideth no man.
And let all men, ſeeing that the guifts of the miniſtery, Vſe 2 and the paines taken in the worke of the miniſtery, are of the free guift of GOD, acknowledge that their whole ſalvation and all the meanes thereof are meerely of the grace of GOD in CHRIST IESUS.
FINIS.