What a Difference You Make! In
Ephesians 4, Paul discusses various ministries the grace of God entrust to Christians. Ministries such as evangelists, pastors and teachers. Vs. 16 says, “…from whom [Christ] the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” The ministry of our Shepherds and Preachers are often more visible than the ministry of our Teachers. A particular class sees the fruit of your labor, but often fails to recognize the diligence and dedication necessary to prepare. Your ministry does matter!
When my son, Caleb, was in kindergarten, the P.E. coach was in the hospital. Caleb made an interesting observation about his importance. He said, “Daddy, He is really important. He not only teaches our minds, but our bodies as well!” I visited the coach in the hospital, and you can imagine how good that observation made him feel.
If you teach a Bible class, then your worth far exceeds this. Paul says in 1 Timothy 4:8, “…for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
Sometimes it is hard for a teacher to see beyond the present. It is easy to look at a room full of active children and see only active children. The reality, however, is that you who teach children are preparing spiritual leaders. These will be future elders, teachers, preachers, missionaries, husbands, wives and parents who are raising their children to honor the Lord. The quality of our teaching will impact the quality of our leaders in the church.
In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul admonishes the young man Timothy to take what he has learned and entrust (teach) it to others who will take it and teach it. This is the process of the continuing gospel. I learn. I teach. My students learn. They teach.
Your ministry matters more than you may ever know. The impact of your teaching may bear its most visible fruit many years from now.
-John Helbig
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