You Will Frustrate Those You Disciple When, part 3

3. You disciple them for your gain and not theirs.

1 Peter 5:2 “…not greedy for money, but eager to serve.”

This frustrates them because once they have accomplished what you want them to accomplish they can be left with a sense of abandonment or confusion.

The person who disciples for their own success tends to view the other person as a project who helps them look better to others. This kind of disciple making is in line with what Paul warned us against in Philippians 2:3 when he said, “do nothing from selfish ambition”. This same theme is seen on Paul’s 2nd letter to the church at Corinth. “So death is at work in us, but life in you…For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving to the glory of God.”

Paul never served for the sake of his own gain but willingly chose to lay down his pursuit of gain so that God would be glorified in the ones he was discipling.

Biblical discipleship always looks to help the other person grow as a follower of Jesus for the sake of the Kingdom. You help them succeed. You help them discover what God is doing in them and then being committed to His movement in their life.

Here are a few qualities of someone who disciples to help others succeed.

1. Humble – Proud people are about themselves. Humble people are about others.
2. Secure – Secure people can help others succeed because they know that if the one they are discipling surpasses them it does not diminish their own value
3. Listeners – Developing the skill of listening to the one you are discipling rather than always being the one talking opens the door to more clearly hear the voice of the Spirit.
4. Teachable – To help others succeed you must be willing to learn and freely give away information.
5. Committed – Those you are discipling need someone to be committed to the movement of God in their life. They need you to be willing to walk with them as far as you can.