WHAT YOU DO MATTERS:

A WORD OF
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR
TEACHERS

Piles of grading. Irate parents. Disrespectful, Kamusta na po

disinterested students. Constant testing and kayo/tayo?
unreasonable requirements. These, and many more
things, conspire against teachers and try to bring us -a simple yet loaded
down. To discourage us. To make us wonder if we are question
wasting our time.

And today I want to offer you a small word of Thank you for inviting!
encouragement. – You are NOT wasting your time.
What you’re doing DOES matter. Your labor is not in
vain. Title & text

And whatever you do, do it

heartily, as to the Lord and not
to men, knowing that from the
Lord you will receive the reward
of the inheritance; for you serve
the Lord Christ. (Col. 3:23-24)
TEACHER, YOUR WORK
MATTERS
I was going to tell you that there are students in your Growth Takes Time
class who will look back on this year and be thankful for
-in our world where everything
your influence. They may even be the one causing you is quantifiable by numbers, our
the most trouble. influence is infinite.
I was going to remind you that growth takes time and
tell you that the seeds you are planting in young hearts
and minds will grow and bring forth fruit, even if you A teacher affects eternity; he
can never tell where his
might not see it yet. (My Teaching experience with influence stops. This quotation
hard-headed students) is from Henry Adams, a 19th
I was going to tell you that you are making a difference. century American historian,
journalist, an academic
That there are students who care. Who are grateful.
Who are learning. Who are growing. Even if they never
tell you.
I was going to tell you all of this until I realized that all
of these things pale in comparison to one very
important fact.
God sees your effort, your work, your labor. And
He is the only one that truly matters.

God sees the long hours and the shed tears. He knows God’s blessing is sufficient for
your biggest frustrations and your deepest hurts. today.
He doesn’t overlook you. And He doesn’t take you for Therefore, do not worry
granted. about tomorrow, for
tomorrow will worry about
itself. Each day has enough
We put so much thought & effort into doing our best trouble of its own. Mattm6:34
for our students. Into being the best teacher we can for
their sake. And while we should emphasize the kids’
needs above our own, there is someone else that we
should be serving above all else: our God.

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and

not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive
the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord
Christ. (Col. 3:23-24)
This powerful verse reminds us that we are working for
an audience of one: our Lord Jesus Christ.
When no one else seems to notice, He sees.
When no one else seems to care, He cares.
When our words seem to be falling flat, He sees our
effort and is pleased with our faithfulness.

If we’re doing it all for Him.

So today, in the midst of the busyness, the frustration,
the chaos – take a moment and remember the real
reason that you are teaching. It shouldn’t be for the
praise. It shouldn’t be for the satisfaction. It shouldn’t
even be for the kids.
The real reason we are teaching should be for God.
And if we keep our focus on Him, it doesn’t matter as
much what’s happening around us.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (I Cor.
15:58)
So don’t give up. Don’t quit.
Be encouraged in the Lord. Find the help you need.
And keep making a difference.