 
PREACHING WITH BALANCE One of the greatest challenges facing gospel preachers is that of achieving and maintaining balance in their work. Many a man has failed in his ministry, even been forced out, because his preaching was tilted toward extremes in one or more areas. Be strong against sin but do not neglect evangelism. It is a temptation to young preachers to get so involved in fighting sin and error that no time is left to seek and save the lost. Yet that is why Christ came (Lk. 19:10), and it is our primary duty (Mark. 16:15). Some preachers seem to think that if they are contending for the faith against some evil, that will somehow atone for their neglect of evangelism. Zeal in taking the Lord’s Supper can’t cover a failure to give our gifts, nor can militancy against sin excuse lack of soul-winning. Like Paul, be set for the defense of the gospel (Phil. 1:16), but also be willing to become all things to all men so as to save their souls (I Cor. 9:22). Be strong against sin but love sinners. Christ abhorred sin and hypocrisy yet he was the friend of sinners (Lk. 7:34). Some men attack sin in such a way that sinners feel they have no hope and no place among Christians. Rather than being bought to repentance, they are driven to despair. Paul could soundly rebuke a sinful brother who was living in adultery (I Cor. 5:1-13), and yet tenderly plead for his acceptance when he had repented (II Cor. 2:6-8). Ours must be a message of hope for the victims of sin rather than rejection. Be a soul-winner but do not neglect your studies. In a world of 7 billion lost souls, we could work day and night 365 days of the year, and still never be finished. Our world is no different from Paul’s and yet he urged a young preacher to “give heed to reading,” to take heed to himself and his teaching, to neglect not his gift (I Tim. 4:13-16). He knew that if the young minister was to fulfill his ministry, he would have to have sufficient time to study and prepare for his teaching. Some men dearly love people and the action of meeting new folks and discussing God’s will with them. On the other hand, they are soon bored with the tedium of study. The temptation is to absorb oneself in the “people” part of the work. The fruit of their choice is soon evident in their classes and sermons. Glad-handing and popularity cannot make a sermon edifying, or a church grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ (II Pet. 3;18). We must balance our time so as to neglect neither area of our work. Be studious but do not isolate yourself from your family and congregation. There are some men who love their study and books so well that they could easily spend all their waking hours there. Books don’t quarrel and complain; they don’t have good days and bad. When they disagree with the preacher, they can be placed on the shelf. Yet the man so engrossed in his study will surely fail as a preacher. A congregation has personal needs and problems that can be met only by personal contact. Even the finest sermons seem cold and distant if the preacher reflects that in his life. It is hard to love and respect a man you don’t really know. Often the type of scholar we refer to is totally out of touch and unaware of the needs of his congregation. Many a man absorbed in his books has awakened to discover he has lost the love and affection of his wife and children. Some have seen their families destroyed from their neglect. Little comfort will it be in eternity that you mastered the moods and tenses of the Greek language but lost your sons and daughters forever. Be concerned with young people but do no act like a kid. A preacher must be interested in the youth of his congregation. Each one is a prospect for salvation. To enjoy the respect of the young, one must associate with them, seek to understand their problems and communicate with them. It is tragic, however, to see a preacher tying to act like a teenager; whether it is in his dress, speech or conduct. While he may gain the favor of the kids he will not likely command their respect. He will most probably lose the respect of the adults with whom he works. Preaching is a man’s work. He who behaves like a kid will not succeed in it. Be serious minded but not without humor. Like elders, a preacher needs to be sober minded (I Tim. 3:20. The work he does demands serious attention. Yet a man who has no humor at all is deficient in his personality and will soon lose his influence over people. Even Jesus expressed some humor in his teaching. No doubt smiles appeared when he spoke of straining gnats and swallowing camels (Matt. 23:24) and of logs in critics’ eyes (Matt 7:4-5). Even as a little sugar makes the harsh tasting medicine appealing, so a little humor can make a painful, difficult lesson more easily received. “Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones” (Prov. 16:24). It is a mistake to think that preaching demands a long face and a droll personality. Work hard to earn people’s respect but do not demand it. A congregation should give honor to whom honor is due (Rom. 13;7). Men who labor with a church are to be esteemed exceedingly highly for their work’s sake (I Thess. 5:13). Respect naturally follows when a man does his work well. When a preacher has to demand such, it reflects on his ministry. People may begrudgingly defer to you, but they can never be forced to love and honor you. “Be thou an example to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity” (I Tim. 4:12). Strive for perfection but don’t be a perfectionist in your work. Our example is Jesus. We must seek to imitate him (I Cor. 11:1). Being human, we must recognize our inability to always do everything in a perfect manner. He who fails to understand this will drive himself to despair attempting to be what he cannot be. Guilt and frustration will plague him. In addition, he will make miserable those associated with him, be they brethren or personal family. The great Paul pressed on towards the goal of the high calling in Christ, yet he freely admitted that he was not perfect (Phil. 3:12-14). In this same vein we add, work hard but don’t be a workaholic. To work enthusiastically for God is commendable. To destroy ones health is unwise and sinful. God ordained a day of rest for workers under Moses’ system (Ex. 20:9-11). He penalizes those who destroy their bodies which house his Holy Spirit (I Cor. 76:19-20; 3:16-17). Be conservative in your convictions but not radical. God’s man should preach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). He should never hesitate to reprove, rebuke, and exhort in sound doctrine (II Tim. 4:2). On the other hand, he must distinguish between his opinions and God’s law. The former are optional, the latter is not. He must deal with people as they are. Babes need milk, not meat (I Cor. 3:2). People must be taught as they are able to bear it (John 16:12). He must never demand of folks more than God does (I Cor 4:6). Remember, only God is law-giver and judge (Jas. 4:12). The church continues to suffer from radicalism that masquerades as conservatism. Be humble and patient, but do not allow people to walk on you. All must humble themselves before God (I Pet. 5:6),. But Paul did not allow the Judaizers to impose their personal restrictions on him and his brethren (Gal. 1:3-5). Nor did he hesitate to exercise his rights as a Roman citizen when men sought to abuse him (Act. 22:25-29).
Preaching demands much more than strong lungs and a glib tongue. Beyond these, it demands wisdom. Let every man who stands before God’s assembly pray for wisdom that he “turn not to the right hand nor to the left” (Prov.
4:27), but that he might be a good minister of Christ, nourished in and proclaiming sound (i.e., healthy) doctrine. JHW | 
