Should I Quit Trying?

Maybe the issue I struggle with is the people.  I've heard many ministers over the years make comments like, "Ministry would be great if it wasn't for the people."  I used to think that was a pretty cynical "joke" they would say, but now I find myself thinking about that statement...Is it true?  Working with people can be frustrating and unrewarding.  The very same person that sings your praises to your face can be the exact same person who stabs you in the proverbial back only seconds later.  People have their own free will.  Sometimes they use that will to say and do some pretty ungodly things.  When you try to help them, you often become the target of their ungodly behavior.  What can I do?


I've spoken with many Christians over the years who have an honest desire to help their family, friends, or neighbors.  They express this same frustration as they try to save their marriage, do "whats best for the kids," help someone break an addiction, or simply bring someone into a loving relationship with God.  They express their frustration with me and want to know what to do.  They want to know when it's ok to give up. When is it ok to quit?  I understand the feelings.


I remember sitting in an informal, after-hours discussion with a marketing manager in my previous career.  He had been given a business to manage that had been tanking over the years.  His job was to evaluate the business and determine what needed to be done to turn it around.  He had done his analysis and was going to be presenting it to the "powers" above him the next day.  "Here's the thing," he told us in preparation for his meeting. "Once the car has run off the cliff, you can hit the brakes all you want and it won't make any difference."  His recommendation was going to be to close down that particular business.


When do you make the same decision when it comes to helping people walk with God?


The apostle Peter had some thoughts to share on the subject...
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:3-11 NIV)

This seems counter-intuitive.  Confirm my "calling and election," he says, by working on making my own life "godly."  I'm supposed to "escape the corruption of this world" through faith then goodness then knowledge then self-control then perseverance then godliness then mutual affection then love. By doing this, I can somehow participate in the "divine nature."  This will keep me from being "ineffective and unproductive."  Effectiveness and productivity begins with my own walk...


That seems like a lot of work to go through just to be able to help someone.
It would be a lot easier to just quit.
Is it worth it, or should I just quit trying?