Good morning! I love quotes – not as much as I love a good Dad Joke – but I love that quotes are able to make you think about something and ponder it for a while as you peel back the layers of depth regarding a particular topic. This morning, I am remembering a quote I heard a long time ago that challenges the way I lead others and continues to be proven true in my life. Here it is:
“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”
I thought about this yesterday as I was outside with Josh taking care of some yard work. The boy is getting bigger and I am really starting to expect more of him as he helps with different chores around the house. There are multiple goals that I am aiming for – teach him responsibility and hard work, teach him life skills he will need as he continues to grow, and as an added bonus I receive help that allows more things to be accomplished.
Josh sort of enjoys using the lawn mower, so I go through all the safety items and give him insights on what to pay attention to. Starting the mower on the sidewalk is easier, don’t put any part of your body near the blades while the mower is running, pay attention for cars coming down the street while mowing near the curb, push down on the handle as you turn to go back the other way, etc…
All of this ‘teaching’ takes time and sometimes it is just easier for me to do it by myself, but is that the best for me and is that the best for him? The answer is no (although Josh may say YES LOL), it is not teaching him how to do things on his own and he will always be reliant on me (or others) doing things for him. And for me, it puts unnecessary pressure on me to have to do things for him (or others) that he should be able to do for himself, while I could be doing something else – which often leads to frustration!
Sometimes it is so easy for us to be self-centered; in life in general and in our relationship with God. We don’t have enough time to take care of ourselves, let alone others. We think about how hard our life has been and how we have had to fend for ourselves on many occasions.
The truth is, Josh could totally figure out how to run the lawn mower by himself. Would it be the safest or most efficient way, probably not. Could he get seriously hurt, yup. The time that I invest in teaching him NOW will reap a benefit LATER for both of us!
The same is true in our lives when we tell people about Jesus and then let them fend for themselves on how to follow Him! As a father it is my God-given responsibility to lead my family into an understanding of what it means to have a relationship with God that is constantly growing and a life that is consistently being TRANSFORMED by the truth in God’s Word! As a Christian it is our God-given responsibility to disciple (teach or train to follow Jesus) others.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:5-9
I don’t know about you, but when I read the Bible there are often times I have to reread sections over and over again to understand. I have to look at cross-references (other scriptures that talk about the same principle in a different context), I have to look at the study notes of a study Bible, I have to ask others about the meaning.
But then I will introduce someone to Jesus, tell them about my testimony, invite them to church (hoping someone else will teach them because I feel so unqualified), and then let them figure it out on their own – does this sound familiar?
We need to accept our responsibility to teach others HOW to follow Jesus – the ONLY one who can satisfy for a lifetime (and eternity)! None of us have it all together, none of us know everything there is to know – but God has given each one of us the Holy Spirit to be our guide and our teacher. Let’s commit today to not just being someone who gives them Jesus for a day, but teaches others how to follow Jesus for a lifetime!
Heavenly Father, thank You for the teacher that You have provided for us – the Holy Spirit! Thank You for the people in our lives that have poured into us to make us who we are today. Help us to be that for someone else. Help us to teach others how to follow You! In Jesus Name – AMEN!
Be Transformed 