Jump Start # 3859
Galatians 4:11 “I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.”
Vain, it’s one of Solomon’s favorite words. It is found sixteen times in Ecclesiastes. Here in Galatians, Paul uses the word four times. We’ve come to define vain as shallow, empty, useless, without purpose. A vain person is superficial. He is one who is drawn to the exterior of beauty, wealth and success but is empty on the inside. As Bob Moorehead wrote in his piece, The paradox of our age, “It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stock room.” The warehouse is empty! That’s the apt description of the vain life.
In our verse today, Paul is not talking about people, but his work as a preacher. He wonders if his work has been in vain. Has it been a waste of time? Did it do any good? Such are the thoughts of parents, preachers and pastors as they pour their hearts into improving the lives of others. Is anyone listening?
Many congregations are in the midst of VBS. It’s that season. We just wrapped ours up last week. A ton of effort goes into transforming hallways, bulletin boards and classrooms into eye appealing themes for the young people. Songs are geared for the young people. It takes an army of teachers, helpers and others to put together and then take down all the things used in VBS. And, one must wonder, does all the effort do any good? To Paul’s words, have we “labored over you in vain?”
Here are some thoughts:
First, it is hard to measure success in teaching. If visible growth is our only yardstick then we will walk away discouraged and disappointed. Teaching God’s word is about planting seeds within hearts. Strengthened hearts. Encouraged hearts. Changed hearts. Those are all internal and often hard to see and measure. Teaching God’s word touches people in many different ways. I’ve had people speak to me years after I had preached something and it stayed with them. I had forgotten, but they didn’t.
We must remember that it is God who gives the increase. We must spread the word of God as wide and far as we can. Don’t get caught up in numbers. When honest and good hearts intersect with the pure teaching of God’s word, great things will happen. Our job is to teach.
Second, it’s hard to know what lessons, impressions stick with little minds and hearts. I remember VBS as a child. I can’t say that those lessons pointed me to who I am today, but they certainly reinforced what God’s word says. It’s that trust and foundation in the Bible that we build our lives upon. Much like a meal, we may only remember a few special ones in the course of a year, but every meal served a purpose. They nourished for the moment and they kept us going. There may not be one sermon, or one class that totally changes the direction of our lives, but for the moment, they nourished and kept us alive.
For me, some of my first Bible class teachers such as Audrey Clark, Mae Hoggatt, later on Charles Crawford, instilled a love for the Lord, the authority of God’s word and the deep purpose of following him. Our little ones in VBS and regular Bible classes and their interaction with elders and preachers and older members will leave a memory that may stay with them the rest of their lives. It may be just one drop in their hearts, but it may be that one drop that makes a difference later on.
Third, there is a responsibility that comes with the student and the audience. Paul wondered aloud if his work had been in vain. What he taught wasn’t. The material wasn’t. His example wasn’t. What may have been in vain was the hearts of the Galatians. It is never a waste of time to teach God’s word. The effort may be viewed as casting pearls before the swine, but it’s not the person casting that is to blame. It’s the swine for who they are. Uninterested. Unmotivated. Proud. Stuck in their ways. And, that has led many a young preacher to quit because he feels that he is a failure.
And, sometimes as the teacher looks across the audience and sees blank stares and lifeless hearts, he may wonder, “What a waste of time.” But, in that audience may be one heart that believes. There may be one heart that is ready to obey the gospel. There may be one heart that is inspired to go and preach God’s word.
VBS, Bible classes, sermons—all part of the makeup of teaching programs within congregations. All have impact because God’s word is taught. The tired teacher needs to catch their breath and then jump back in to teaching. Someday that baton will be handed to another generation, a generation that you have influenced, molded and taught.
Juanita Meredith wrote a poem long ago called “Little Barefoot Buford”
A preacher told this story in my hearing long ago:
About little barefoot Buford; to church he’d always go.
They had a big revival-got the best man they could find;
A most impressive speaker– the educated kind.
They scrubbed the building, and worked with all their might;
They dusted off the song books, and made things look just right.
They handed out pamphlets and knocked on every door.
They put up great big posters in every shop and store.
They invited all their neighbors and brought the kinfolk too,
To hear this new preacher who would tell them what to do.
They put him in the nicest room; they fixed the fancy food;
They used their finest china, and planned to feed him good!
Well, he preached his greatest sermons; the singing was divine;
The house was overflowing, and the weather turned out fine!
But the meeting was now closing and not a soul had come.
The people sat and wondered, where had their plans gone wrong?
Then the crowd was startled by a movement in the aisle-
‘Twas little barefoot Buford, with his shy and timid smile.
Some said when it was over it was a disappointing week;
There was only barefoot Buford, with dust upon his feet.
They’d wsted time and money; their work was all in vain,
‘Cause little barefoot Buford seemed to be their only gain.
But the years have gone by swiftly, and the tale is told today,
That hundreds have been converted by Buford, so they say.
He became a gospel preacher, and spreads the Word with joy;
Old timers still remember that little barefoot boy.
We often hear about him; what brother Buford’s done,
And the folks from that meeting are proud he’s a native son!
So, when the seed is planted, the yield we cannot know,
Just like little barefoot Buford in that meeting long ago!
Roger