Loving the people

Often my classes begin with open discussion on the previous week's required reading. Yesterday one student exclaimed how struck they were by a comment on how preachers can love their preaching more than the people. Many others chimed in with agreement.

"We love the subject more than the people....The first act of love in preaching is an act of self-denial - to become more interested in people than in the subject. That means giving up the love of knowledge and replacing it with a love for people." (Preaching that Connects, Mark Galli and Brian Larson, Zondervan, 1994, page 16.

How does this strike you? There is just so much truth to share...but surely never at the expense of loving the hearers?