The Bhagavad-gita (18.68) proclaims that those who share its message of love get pure devotion to Krishna. The next verse (18.69) further declares that such preachers become very dear to him.

Significantly, neither of these verses talks about the reach of the outreach – how many people get influenced or transformed. Instead, both focus on how we will become transformed by doing the service of outreach. By talking about Krishna’s love with the world, we gain greater realization of the depth and sweetness of that love and thereby become more enriched with it.

Both due to our increased contemplation on Krishna’s message and his increased grace in reciprocation with our endeavors, the service of outreach accelerates our inner reaching of Krishna.

And of course, the very act of assisting Krishna in his mission of compassion endears us to him. After all, what loving father will not feel increased love for those of his children who assist him in getting his estranged children back on track?

So both due to our increased contemplation on Krishna’s message and his increased grace in reciprocation with our endeavors, the service of outreach accelerates our inner reaching of Krishna. That’s why great spiritual teachers urge us to do outreach as a part of our sadhana, our spiritual discipline meant to take us closer to Krishna. Such an understanding of outreach protects us from succumbing to pride or populism; without worrying about how much people honor us or how many people are impressed, we can focus on pleasing Krishna with as pure a heart as possible.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that the outreach will be fruitless externally. The Gita (11.33) assures that the union of the mystical Lord and the determined devotee is the certain harbinger of success. But the inner focus on reaching Krishna ensures that external success of reaching others becomes not the substitute of inner success, but its fruit.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Text 69