Part III of Charles Bridges’ timeless work The Christian Ministry covers “causes of ministerial inefficiency connected with our personal character.” One such cause is covetousness.

He writes, “Covetousness in ministers has almost grown to a proverb.” “The frequent Scriptural connections of this selfish principle with the sacred office, were doubtless intended to warn the servant of God of a most prevalent temptation.”

I don’t know of a pastor who would disagree that covetousness (which Col. 3:5 calls idolatry) is not always lurking in the shadows. So what is a pastor to do? How can we war against this vaunted, but vanquished, foe? One way is to meditate on Bridges’ answer to the question,

The most effectual preventions of this corroding passion are — to have but few wants — to learn from our poor Christian day-labourers to cultivate faith for the future – to live not for men or for time, but for eternity – to have the glory of God, and the good of our fellow-creatures constantly in view – to study our Master’s life and example – to obtain by habitual eyeing of the cross a gradual conformity to its spirit – and to remember, as Ministers, that an earnest desire to gain continually more souls to God is the sole avarice permitted to a pastor.

Wise. Challenging. Biblical.