“Not many of you should become teachers my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly” – James 3:13
Often times we feel like teaching others “the ways of the Lord”, giving them a biblical instruction or wisdom without even considering what it is that we are embarking upon. Other times, we readily offer a prayer for someone, their situation, circumstance, hardship or even loss without considering whether God will hear our prayers. Bear with me here, there is a point to this. What about those of us “feeling” moved to start a Bible study or even become a discipler of others?
We are way too eager to discharge the received biblical knowledge without a full understanding of its meaning and purpose for ourselves first even when inspired by our “best intentions”, and there lies the problem the Holy Scriptures warn us about. You see, regardless of how “good” our intent may seem, it will always fall short of fully benefiting us and others unless our intentions and actions are totally aligned with the will of the Holy Spirit.
Allow me to explain. Our own intentions (James 3:14) are often based on jealousy and / or selfish ambition to rush to remove a speck from our brother’s eye while disregarding the log in our own eye (Matthew 7:3).
It is a natural inclination to discharge a knowledge or a revelation to someone. Jesus tells us to check our life first to see if the same sin or a shortcoming is not being practiced by us. We must apply the wisdom of the word of God to ourselves first in order for a transformation to take place in our souls (Romans 2:21) to ensure a continues change (Romans 12:2) in us while striving to become more like Jesus who does not change. Paul makes it his priority to make sure that the church of Corinth know about his way of disciplining his own body in order to not be disqualified (1 Corinthians 9:27) when preaching to others. We must follow Paul’s example.
Peter reveals the purpose of a Christian life which is to suffer as Christ did (1Peter 4:1-2) in order to experience the transformation in ourselves that results and perseverance, character and ultimately love for others. The same love according to Paul (Galatians 5:22-23) is the good fruit that produces joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, some of the attributes of God himself. These attributes are then manifested in us as a result of our personal transformation where there is less of us in more of Jesus, and therefore, our counseling of others is beneficial not only to those whom we are helping, but also to ourselves. When fruitful in this way, we are praised by God and man and are justified when we speak (Romans 3:4).
Our prime example is Jesus, who was a perfect man and God at the same time, yet He had to undergo perfection (Hebrews 5:9) in the flesh in order to become the righteous and the highest priest going through more than what we will ever go through. What does it say about us? As a mortal man, Peter did not understand the necessity of our perfect Savior’s perfecting, and therefore, was rebuked by Jesus when the disciple objected to Jesus’ death on the cross – the ultimate act of perfection (Matthew 16:22–23).
If you consider yourself a teacher, then ask yourself these questions:
1. Is there any unconfessed and/or habitual sin in your life?
2. Are you holding something against your brother or sister, or they have something against you without you taking appropriate steps towards the resolution and ultimately reconciliation with that person (Matthew 5:24).
3. Is there any self-serving attitude in instructing others (James 3:14,16)?
If the answer is “no” to all of these questions, then being controlled by the Holy Spirit, it is no longer you who speak, remain silent or whatever you do. It is rather the Holy Spirit of God according to the will of God ministers through you to those whom He puts in front of you. For “No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). Therefore,”… If anyone does not stumble in what they say, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body” – only possible when controlled by the Holy Spirit who lives in us and controls our self – the true definition of self control in a life of a Christian.
My brothers and sisters, those of us who have received the gift of teaching, preaching and discipling are commanded to lead the way in conquering our flesh by dying daily (1 Corinthians 15:31). Only then we are effective in instructing others.
Stay tuned!