James 3:1 (NET) – Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers
and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly.
If there is one passage of scripture that weighs heavily on
me, it comes in this warning from James.
Teaching, whether in my church or in my blogs, is one of the
great joys in my life.
But, regardless of the pleasure it brings me, the warning
from James could not be clearer.
Those who teach will be judged more strictly.
Since that is the case, why would anyone even consider taking
on such a task?
The answer can be found in the book of Romans.
In it we are told that we have different gifts according to
the grace given to us.
Furthermore, we are told that we “must” use those gifts in
proportion to our faith.
This includes teaching.
Romans 12:7 (NET) – If it is service, he must serve. If it is teaching,
he must teach;
When people think of “a calling” they primarily associate it with a call to preach.
Yet each of the gifts discussed in Romans is, in reality, a
call from God.
Each is a call to serve Him and to bring Him glory.
This is also applies to teaching.
Teaching is much more than the act of transferring knowledge
from one individual to another.
It is also meant to glorify God in the process.
Another thing that helps me cope with the warning from James
lies in preparation.
In an age where so many things compete for time and
attention, I know that time must be set aside for preparation.
I dare not attempt to teach without being well prepared.
That preparation must include prayer as well as study.
That prayer must include a petition to the Holy Spirit.
It must be a prayer for both guidance and resilience.
It must be for the long haul regardless of how many or how
few we are given to teach.
One of the groups I teach in rotation has grown smaller over
the years.
Age has taken its toll and this group that was once large has
now diminished to a faithful few.
So few in fact that one of its members recently suggested to
me disbanding so that we would not have to prepare for such a small group.
The other teachers I have spoken to feel as I do.
We will continue to teach this class no matter how many or
how few are able to attend.
Scripture has a reminder for us there as well.
Matthew 18:20 (NET) – For where two or three are gathered in my name, I
am there among them.
The words of James contain a sober warning, but in the end
there is nothing I or any other teacher for the Lord would rather do.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
