And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11)

Now I would that the divine call would come to some gifted men. You who have, perhaps, some wealth of your own, what could be a better object in life than to devote yourself and your substance to the Redeemer’s cause?

You, young men, who have brilliant prospects before you but who as yet have not the anxieties of a family to maintain, why would it not be a noble thing to surrender your brilliant prospects, that you may become a humble preacher of Christ?

The greater the sacrifice, the more honor to yourself and the more acceptable to him. I long that we may see young men out of the universities and students in our grammar schools—that we may see our physicians, advocates, tradesmen and educated mechanics, when God has touched their hearts, giving up all they have, that they may teach and preach Christ.

It will never do to send out to the heathen men who who are of no use at home. We cannot send men of third-and tenth-class abilities; we must send the highest and the best. The bravest men must lead the van.

O God, anoint your servants, we beseech you; put the fire into their hearts that never can be quenched; make it so hot within their bones that they must die or preach; that they must lie down with broken hearts or else be free to preach where Christ never has been heard. ((Charles Spurgeon, At the Master’s Feet [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005], June 18.))

Charles Spurgeon

Further reading

• PERRY NOBLE CALLS T.D. JAKES “FAKE” AT STEVEN FURTICK’S CODE ORANGE DEVIVAL?
• RICK WARREN, SELF PITY AND CHRIST JESUS
• PASTRIX PAULA WHITE: YOUR WORDS CREATE YOUR DESTINY