Essays
Keeping Watch Over Our Souls
KEEPING WATCH OVER OUR SOULS
Can you name one of our nation’s presidents who was born in a log cabin in the 1800’s? The most common response is, “Abe Lincoln”. While that is correct, it would also be correct to answer, “James A. Garfield”. Technically speaking, neither were president at the time they were born in log cabins (speaking of such is an anachronism). Garfield was born in Orange Township, Ohio in 1831. After listening intently to a gospel sermon by A. A. Lillie, Garfield was baptized into Christ Jesus on March 4, 1849. James preached his first sermon at Hiram in the winter of 1853-54. In the years that followed, James became quite active in preaching and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. He lived in a time when the “Churches of Christ” were basically one and the same with “The Disciples of Christ” and “The Christian Church”. President Garfield was one of our brethren. In the days leading up to his inauguration in March of 1881, Garfield stated, “I resign from the highest office in the land to become President of the United States.” James Garfield had a keen grasp of the vitally significant role that was shouldered by local ministers and the elders within the numerous congregations of God’s people spread throughout the land. Indeed - - he deemed such to be “the highest office” any man could hold.
During last Sunday’s pastoral I realized anew how important our elders are to us. They are overseers and shepherds of God’s precious flock (Acts 20:28), charged by the Lord with the sacred task of keeping watch over our souls (Heb.13:17). The apostle Paul gives this admonition: we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you ESTEEM THEM VERY HIGHLY IN LOVE BECAUSE OF THEIR WORK (1Thess.5:12f). Are we doing this? When was the last time you thanked one of our shepherds? Do you pray often for our elders? Is your household a steady source of joy for them or do you bring them continual grief, heartache and discouragement (Heb.13:17)? While our church elders, who labor “voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain” (1Pet.5:2) are not perfect, they are deserving of our support. So let us do our part in “building them up”. They are men of faith who are worthy of our honor (Rom.12:10 and 13:7). Let us in turn watch over their souls, making certain that they do not “grow weary in well-doing” (2Thess.3:13 and Gal.6:9).
Terry Siverd / Cortland Church of Christ
