Teachers and Leaders Beware

Jim:

There is an interesting theme running through the readings today dealing with those who are in positions of leadership because of their supposed knowledge or wisdom.

James 3:1-12
Maybe it’s because I do a good bit of teaching in my role as co-pastor or because Southern Presbyterian ministers were once called teaching elders, but verse 1 really makes me nervous. “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” I understand the implications. Those who presume to share wisdom with others, especially when it deals with the faith, must guard against errant words or actions. The same applies for parents because we are so often in a teaching mode. The adage, practice what you preach, comes to mind, but this is not easy, even if it is worth pursuing, worth the effort. Ultimately, I think we are called to take what we say and do, especially as it affects others, very seriously and strive for the highest level of accountability in our lives.

1 Kings 9:24-10:13
According to verse 10:1, “When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon (fame due to the name of the Lord), she came to test him with hard questions.” Solomon had taken his role as leader seriously and had asked God for the wisdom necessary to carry it out effectively. He was not a teacher in the purest sense of that word, but as king he was in a position to share wisdom with others and to have an impact on many lives. That he was wise is attested to over and over again, as is the fact that God continued to hold him accountable for his actions. God-given wisdom, then, is to be prized and not wasted and to be used to the glory of the one who gave it (“fame due to the name of the Lord”).

Mark 15:1-11
What can happen when we allow ourselves to be distracted from God’s will can be seen in verse 1. “As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.” The folks who should have most welcomed the arrival of the Messiah, who should have sat at his feet and learned all he had to teach them, instead presumed to judge him because he did not meet their expectations. They had allowed their positions to sway their judgment and had not reflected on what God might have been doing in their midst. How often do we make the same mistake? How often do we assume we know that God is up to without really paying attention? Solomon recognized his reliance on God. The writer of James expressed the importance of living a life of accountability. Mark shows how easy it is to fail. All in all there is a lot for us to consider and to pray about.