About 30 years ago, a college class of future teachers was asked to study the living conditions and potential for success of 200 inner-city, grade-school boys. Its final judgment on all 200 was, “They haven’t got a chance.”
Over twenty-five years later, another instructor, after reviewing the project, decided to do a follow-up study to see what had happened to the boys. The results of the study are striking.
Though some 25 of the boys had either moved away or had died, the study found that the rest (over 170) of the original 200 boys were surprisingly successful in a variety of professional occupations. Since most all of the boys were still living in the same inner-city area, it was relatively easy to individually contact them in the follow-up study. Each one was asked, “How do you account for your professional success?” In each case the reply which came back started with this comment: “There was a teacher... ”
That lady, now elderly and retired, was located and asked what “special secret” she had used with these students. How had she been able to be so successful in counteracting the negative impact of the environment where they lived? Smiling broadly, she said, “Oh! it’s very simple. I loved those boys!”
In these last, dark days when all is being given up, the assembly desperately needs men of God lovers of Christ who have willing hearts (Ex. 35:2121And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. (Exodus 35:21)) to serve God’s flock. Especially needed are those who morally answer to “faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:22And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:2)). How much we need to be grounded in the truth of Scripture if we are to make progress in our Christian lives.
However, the spirit in which divine truth is taught is also important. The basis of every ministry is love for Christ and for His beloved assembly. An effective teacher has more love for truth and those he teaches than for teaching. A spiritual father (shepherd) lovingly feeds the flock of God. An evangelist preaches because of love for Christ and for lost souls. How important is the spirit of love in all manner of Christian ministry!
Consider Proverbs a divine treasure chest of heavenly wisdom. Its precepts are not presented by a teacher, but by a father. Often its divine instruction begins with these words: “My son.” In Proverbs 23:2626My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. (Proverbs 23:26) the father’s loving entreaty is, “My son, give me thine heart.” Too often we change this to: “Give me thine ear.” Instruction and love cannot be separated. Teaching, indeed all ministry if efficacious, will be loving and nurturing. It will bear the same character as Paul did with the Thessalonian saints. He had been gentle among them “as a nurse cherisheth her children” (1 Thess. 2:77But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: (1 Thessalonians 2:7)).
Ed.