02.09. Ministers' Wives

IX. THE INFLUENCE OP MINISTERS’ WIVES.

There is an unfortunate and mistaken notion somewhat prevalent respecting the duties of a pastor’s wife. It has sometimes been remarked by ministers, and even from the pulpit: “ When I was called, my wife was not called “; or, “ My wife has no salary,” implying that no work in the parish must be required of her. Again, words like these: “ The parish ought not to demand so much of the minister’s wife,” said in a half-pitiful tone, as if she had a hard time, and the parish were to blame for it; as if she were a kind of martyr to the cause.

Now, looking at this matter simply from a secular standpoint, does not the true wife take to heart and share the burdens and fortunes of her husband, whatever his calling is, whether mechanic or farmer, or one of the learned professions? And is she not ready at all times to cheer and aid him, and show herself a worthy helpmeet? And if, through her love for him, she often denies herself and makes great sacrfices in order that his interests may be advanced, are others to be blamed for it? But there is a higher view to take of the position of any Christian wife, whether her husband is a minister or merchant or day-laborer. She has obligations higher than those she owes to her husband. “One is your Master, even Christ.” So it is to Him that she owes her best service, and this, happily, never conflicts with her duties to her husband. The limit of our obligations to Christ is our opportunity. So if the minister’s wife has a wider sphere than some other Christian women, it is simply an enlargement of her opportunity, and the duties that grow from it are not laid on her by the church of which her husband is the pastor, but a bestowment of great and blessed privilege from God, which ought to be a joy to her, and for which she must give account to Him. So it appears that the duties of a pastor’s wife are no more, after all, than those of any Christian woman blessed with similar opportunities. But a minister’s wife is a Christian; she has her own soul to save, and has her own work to do. According to her ability she is bound to God’s service; according to her greater opportunity she will be glad to do what is in her power; and instead of being burdened thereby, all:she thus does in His name and by His grace will add SO much to the depth of her joy and to the blessedness of her life in Christ. The more we dwell in sympathy and grateful love on the humiliation and sacrifice of our blessed Lord for sinners, the greater joy we shall count it to be allowed to do something in return for him. Duty becomes a pleasure then, and we hail with delight the opportunities that are open to us. We cease talking about ’’how much we have to do,” or “the great demands on our time and strength.” When we rise to consider, in any adequate sense, what our Saviour has done for us, we are ashamed that our service to Him has been so poor and meagre; and with quickened heart we cry out: “ Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? “ Let not any of us, then, who are ministers wives, plan how little we can do to help on the cause of Christ in our church, and in our husband’s parish; how small we can narrow down our influence; how much time and strength we can spare from our Christian duties to devote to “ society,” to amusement, to recreation, to personal ease. With such a spirit we shall dishonor our Saviour, and we shall.be sure to have a hard, uncomfortable time of it ourselves, and the stars in our crown will be few. There are souls all about us hungry for the Christian aid and comfort we can bring them from the precious Word of God. There are those we can bless and cheer on every hand. Let us not say as Jeremiah did: “ I cannot — I am but a child.” If God gives the opportunity, He surely gives the ability.

There are, it may be, younger ministers’ wives who are looking to us for a worthj*^ example. I shall never cease to be grateful for the bright, beautiful life of my pastor’s wife in the East — a lady who early ripened for Heaven, and was called from great and marked usefulness. I thought if I could only be like her in devotion to Christ, — if I could be a blessing to others, as she had been to me, in leading them nearer to the feet of Jesus, — how happy I should be. And for years after she had gone up higher, her noble, sweet example was before me, a great inspiration in my own daily life.

“Let your light so shine...” This light must be Christ in us^ if others are led to glorify our Father in Heaven. If we are God’s children we shall have the light of Christ in our hearts; and if we drink deep at the fountains of His love every day, and feed on the riches of His Word, we shall have wherewith to enrich and benefit others. “As we have therefore opportunity let us do good unto all men.” Instead of murmuring and being sour because sacrifices and burdens come upon us, — and much is to be done, — let us thank God he has counted us worthy to be sharers in the toils of the kingdom He is building, leading back wandering feet to Him, and esteem the privilege of working with Him who has suffered for us a great gain.

It is enough that the servant should be as his Lord. Who is the minister’s wife above other wives, that she cannot spend and be spent in the great company of those who are freely yielding up themselves for Him who kept not back his own life for us?