BT Staff / Tuesday, June 18, 2024

It Is Too Hard

By Ken Adams

I’ve heard many students complain that their assignment was too hard — even before they started it. There are several reasons they would say that, but Jesus, the Master Teacher, gives us insight into which excuse makes spiritual lessons too hard.

“Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” (Matt. 13:13 NKJV).

Students may think their lessons are too hard because they are genuinely incapable of performing. Some people simply lack ability, but they are rare. And public-school teachers, by law, must adjust the lesson so they can successfully complete it. They are, thus, still without excuse. Others complain because they underestimate their ability. I have known many students who surprised themselves and earned an excellent grade once they found the confidence to jump in and do the work.

It is well known among teachers that everyone can learn. Not everyone can become an expert, and they may need a calculator, but even I have learned how to balance my bank account.

Though everyone can learn, a good teacher cannot teach an unwilling student. But even a bad teacher can teach a willing student.

Unfortunately, to the distress of many teachers who keep a bottle of Pepto Bismol in their desk drawer, some students insist they can’t learn — but they mean they won’t. They are not interested. They may not see the value in the lesson, or they may just be lazy. I once had a student who repeated the same class three years in a row and completed only one assignment (at the end of the last semester of his senior year). My hair line has never recovered.

Why do people think spiritual lessons are too hard? It is not the Teacher’s fault. The Holy Spirit lives in every Christian and is ready to teach them spiritual truths. All believers are capable of learning. Yet because some Christians lack the confidence to learn more than basic spiritual truths, they learn only what passively comes their way. (Like the student who can repeat the quote that was on the wall poster all year.) They forget that while they must put forth effort, God’s Spirit is a great Teacher who will enable them to learn.

Some Christians, as well as unbelievers, are just not interested. Perhaps they think spiritual truths beyond the basics are irrelevant. They are for the preacher, the Sunday School teacher or the occasional Bible nerd. Perhaps they just don’t care. Jesus spoke parables to those who do not care.

I find it curious that Jesus said He used parables to hide truth from the uninterested, then had to explain them (at least sometimes) to His apostles who were very interested. There is a message here for those who think they cannot understand the deep things of God. The apostles’ contribution to learning Jesus’ lesson was not to unscramble a puzzle, but simply to listen to God reveal it. Thus, no Christian is incapable of learning because God is willing to explain it. (Of course, there are mysteries that will take eternity to learn.)

If you do not care, God will hide His truth from you. See the contrast between Jesus’ enemies and His apostles.

Of His enemies Jesus said, “For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed…” (Matt. 13:15 NKJV).

“But blessed are your eyes (Jesus said to His apostles) for they see: and your ears, for they hear” (Matt. 13:16).

If you have been called by God, and if you have thoroughly prepared, do not blame yourself if those who hear you preach or teach — your students — do not learn the lesson. Perhaps they don’t want to. You might as well have spoken in a parable.

(kendrickLadams@gmail.com)