Entrusted with the Message

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Here's the question of the day:
Paul, Timothy, and Silas were gentle among the Thessalonians like what? (I Thess 2)

And here's the reflection of the day:
1 Thessalonians 2:3-4 For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts.

It's that time of year again. Time to recruit Sunday School teachers. This is always a difficult time of year for churches. Often, the same people teach year after year after year. And the congregation relies on those same people to always teach. But sometimes life happens and schedules change. Then the church is thrown into a bit of chaos as they scramble to cover all the positions needed.

I just had a conversation with someone about teaching Sunday School. This was someone who has taught it before but found it difficult and frustrating. I mentioned that not everyone has the gift of teaching. That's kind of obvious, right? And possibly the worst thing a congregation could would be to put someone in a place where he or she is not particularly gifted. It frustrates that person as well as cheats the students of a positive educational experience.

But sometimes I wonder how many people never volunteer to teach NOT because teaching isn't their gift but instead because they are afraid. Afraid of what, you might be asking. Well, afraid of not being a good teacher, afraid of not knowing enough, and afraid that people will find out they don't know as much (about God, the Bible, the church, etc) that they lead people to believe.

But I Thessalonians 2 reminds us that "we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel." Paul, Timothy, and Silas carried the gospel around the world not for their own glory "but to please God who tests our hearts."

God approved and entrusted them (AND US) with the message of the gospel. And if we don't feel up to (worthy enough? smart enough? articulate enough? fill in your own neurosis) the task, then maybe instead of bowing out of our duty to serve, perhaps we should live a more obedient life in order to feel more worthy; or learn more stuff so we do feel smart enough; or practice public speaking so we're not so afraid. God is always pleased with efforts in any and all of these areas.

Perhaps if we could think of teaching (or any of the "work" in the church) more in terms of pleasing God (and "not to please people") we might find Jesus casting out our fear and replacing it with love. . . and a desire to please God.