The Value of Teaching Others

When I was 15 in New Orleans I had a job as a pot washer in a hospital kitchen. The ladies who worked there taught me how to wash pots and pans correctly. Today, 53 years later, I was washing dishes here at home and realized that things I was taught so many years ago are still a part of me.

There are two elements to that:

1. I was taught well using standards which would not be compromised

2. I practiced what I was taught until, now, these things are habitual.

Last night I listened to a recording for a streaming radio show which will be broadcast tonight on a station I help manage. One of the other hosts, Jonathan - a godly young man, had come in to record it and, when he was preparing to leave his house his two older daughters asked if they could come.

Sarah (6) and Savannah (5) are delightful little girls. I enjoy watching them and their younger siblings running around and playing at Jonathan’s congregation whenever I go there to speak.

Last night I was listening to that streaming radio recording to prep it to be broadcast and was thrilled to hear them with Jonathan. He taught his topic but kept asking those two little girls to weigh in.

I was amazed to hear how biblically literate they are. They knew what they were talking about and kept throwing out Scriptures which they had memorized. Neither had any prompting by their daddy. They didn’t come with lists of things to discuss; they simply were excited about the Bible and knew what they knew.

As I listened I wished I could see Jonathan’s face. How proud of his little girls he must have been!

“Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.” (Psalm 34:11)

…and…

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverb 22:6)

Just as at the age of 68 I still do something as mundane as washing pots well because I was trained well at 15, these young ladies will continue in the Lord when they are older because their mommy and daddy train them now.

Who has discipled you? What were you taught as a new Christian which is 1) true and 2) something that you practice automatically?

If you have been taught, you are blessed.

Secondly, who are YOU teaching?

I know Jonathan and Holly, the parents of little Sarah and Savannah, very well. Sure, he is a minister but that’s not his first ministry. His first ministry is husband…followed closely by father.

He and his wife might read Bible stories and teach their children Scriptures but, most of all, they teach by how they live. They really are like this.

Some of their children are adults now. They are honest, respectful, spiritually clean, hardworking young men. Their parents taught them well.

I’m impressed by this family but am not trying to inflate their egos.

There are literally millions of other families like theirs in that they also TEACH others. And we can all do this. We can ALL teach someone something.

Last night little Savannah and Sarah unhesitatingly spoke freely of spiritual things they know and practice. I’m sure Jonathan was pleased to watch them live that way.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all experience that? If we all could watch someone else portray things we placed into them because we love Jesus and love those He allows to be taught by us?

Who are YOU teaching? Who are you supposed to disciple?

Perhaps you can ask the Lord who He intends for you to bless in this way. Good teaching is never a waste of time.

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” (Proverb 9:9)

May the Lord lead you in this; then you can help mold your own children – natural and spiritual ones! It’ll also say something about you.

“…exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.” (Titus 2:6-8)

In the meantime, if you need me, I’ll be washing pots and pans…and teaching.

Pastor Mike McInerney

Mike McInerney Ministries, Inc.

© June 4, 2023

(for use with permission)