Why is teaching or preaching an awesome responsibility?
Teaching or preaching is an awesome responsibility because the teacher handles the eternal destiny of people. Misleading them frivolously has eternal consequences, so one cannot sleep at night if knowingly leading hundreds or thousands astray. Fear of consequences should prevent giving ear-tickling messages rather than truth.
Les teaches that teaching or preaching is an awesome responsibility because it involves the eternal destiny of people. If he were behind the sacred desk and had any inkling he was misleading several hundred or seven thousand people, he could not sleep at night, since frivolously leading people astray is so serious. He illustrates with a brother whose pastor preached almost identically on Wednesday night but would not preach that way Sunday morning, saying, "I don't dare." Les says he could never stand before people and give warm soup or tickle their ears because he fears the consequences. He notes many are afraid to give people the truth, afraid of losing a big giver or having people disgruntled. Paul, however, was not afraid of anybody, did not care what others thought, loved everyone, yet would not back down from preaching and declaring his gospel because he knew the consequences.