Discouragements When Teaching Others
We are not able to effectively consider all the discouragements that plague the one who is endeavoring to be spiritual because of space restrictions. But we can look at one aspect of Christianity that often is very discouraging to people. That is the area of teaching others.
Many children of God fail to be involved in personal evangelism and others who are doing it quit because of the discouragements connected with it. Because a work can be discouraging, though, is no reason not to be doing it if God wants it done. Paul, as the apostle to the Gentiles, was often discouraged in his labors but he did not allow it to stop him from doing what he knew to be right. Nothing, including discouragements, moved him from his work of evangelism (Acts 20:24). Neither should anything keep us from our work for the Lord.
It has been said that the person who is forewarned is forearmed. Perhaps if we can anticipate some of the discouragements that typically arise when one attempts to teach others the gospel, we will be able to deal with and overcome them. A few of them follows.
Dull Minds. The writer of Hebrews was hindered in his efforts to teach some because they were "dull of hearing" (Heb. 5:11-14). While He was upon the earth, people, because of dull minds, failed to comprehend what Jesus said (John 7:33-36; 8:21-27; 8:38-43; Matt. 13:10-16). Even His most dedicated followers sometimes missed the point of His teachings (Matt. 15:10-20; 16:21-23).
Closed Minds. There are those who neither try to nor want to understand. They want to have things their way. The apostle Paul foretold of this attitude in 2 Timothy 4:3-4. Jesus also encountered this attitude when teaching. Consider those who would take His loaves and fishes but not His teaching (John 6:24-29). They put their personal desires ahead of the truth He taught (John 11:47-50; Matt. 12:22-24). When He would not serve their purpose and teach them what they wanted to hear, they had no time for Him but, rather, closed their eyes and hardened their hearts to the truth (Matt. 15:13).
Opposition. Any kind of opposition is discouraging but when opposition seems to triumph, real conviction and genuine dedication are needed to stand against it. Jesus faced successful opposition. Many were determined to destroy His influence and defeat His purpose. They resorted to perversions, misrepresentations and lies in an effort to destroy His reputation (Luke 23:1-2; John 19:12). His good works infuriated them, so they sought to pervert them in order to turn others against Him. They were wrong but they temporarily got the upper hand (Matt. 27:20-23). But He ultimately triumphed.
An Antagonistic Environment. We live in a power-mad, pleasure-crazed world. Materialism, secularism, skepticism, pessimism, degeneracy, and hypocrisy offer little encouragement for the spread of the gospel. Remember, though, the spiritual condition of the world in which Jesus lived and taught. Both Gentiles (Rom. 1:18-32) and Jews (Rom. 2:1,17-24; 3:9-10; Eph. 2:1-3) were extremely sinful. The people were ignorant and vile, their rulers were bigoted and politically motivated, and the priests were oppressive and unmerciful. Skepticism, traditionalism, and hypocrisy prevailed. Yet, amid such undesirable conditions, Jesus launched and continued His work refusing to be deterred in His efforts.
Waning Interest. We feel elated when interest is growing and enthusiasm is high, but what happens when interest lags? Some become despondent and say, "What's the use?" Jesus experienced the disappointment of decreasing interest. Great crowds followed Him at first, but when they considered His teaching "too hard" they dropped out and lost interest. At the end of His three-year ministry, only a handful remained. He understood that even one soul was worth more than all the wealth in the world (Matthew 16:26). (part #2)
Onward Rejoicing, John B. Daniels, Associate Minister
