Sometimes people just need to hear exactly what they already know
By Dean Collins
I’ve had this experience many times. It happened quite often when I made my living as a consultant. And it happens now when I’m asked to serve on a board or am asked to help some leader solve a problem. When I take the call or show up at the meeting, I think, “Why do they need me?” They are good people with plenty of knowledge, and they have the ability to teach others, including me, about many things.
About 30 years ago I had this experience when I accepted by first consulting job. The wisest person I knew had just asked me to help figure out a problem in his business, and I said yes. And when I hung up the phone, I thought, How can I possibly help? I had made the commitment, so I had to take the next step. I went to a meeting with the senior executive team.
As I sat there, the feeling came over me again. These are good people. They have a vast amount of knowledge between them. In fact, they are often asked by others in their business how they do what they do. What exactly is my role in this situation and with these people? I didn’t need to teach them. They knew more than I did about their business, the industry, and each other.
I had similar experiences as a therapist. I remember the day a well-known and well-respected pastor from a large church in Atlanta scheduled an appointment at my counseling practice. He was a genuinely good man, respected by everyone around him. He knew the Bible much better than I did. For years he had taught others several times a week. How was I to help him?
How Paul felt?
This may be exactly the situation the apostle Paul describes as he moves to the end of his letter to the believers in the church at Rome. Paul had not yet been to Rome, and when he would finally arrive there later, he would come as a prisoner, not as the speaker at the leadership conference the Roman church was hosting. Paul knew these were good people with kindness in their hearts. He knew of their reputation to study and learn the things of God. And the fact that the church had grown also meant they had the ability to teach and counsel others.
At the end of 15 chapters (which fill about 15 pages in most printed Bibles), Paul said, “I have made some bold points in this letter. My boldness isn’t because you don’t know. I make my points to remind you that because God has been gracious to me, I will pass along that grace to you.” Paul saw as his priestly duty to boldly remind them to continue offering themselves to Christ and, therefore, to others. Paul knew to be effective one must get self out of the way.
There is no room, according to Paul, to be proud about anything other than what Christ is doing in and through us. Paul stated his mission clearly and was planting the seed for the believers who would read this letter that this mission is everyone’s mission: Preach the gospel. Share the good news. Spread the seed of God’s love so every person can experience the love of God.
Understanding my role?
Looking back to that first consulting job and the counseling I did with the Godly pastor, I think I was stumbling into this understanding of my role. Remind people what they know. Help them discover the goodness and knowledge they have in Christ. Yes, sometimes with boldness point out some things that have been neglected or ignored, and then get them focused on the main thing.
You remember the main thing, don’t you?
Share the love of Jesus with everyone. Do it with your actions and don’t forget to use words. And always brag of Jesus and what he has done for you.
Your time with God’s Word
Romans 15:14-21, ESV
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