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PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
James 3 (click the link)


KEY PASSAGE:
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly… But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic… But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:1, 14-15, 17, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
So I used to wonder what was up with the beginning of chapter 3 in James.  He tells the reader that most people should not become teachers because of more harsh judgment.  Then James launches into a discussion about how corrupt and destructive the majority of speech is.  He finishes up with a comparison of wisdom of the world verses wisdom from God.  So how did the earlier translators decide to put all this into one chapter?  

After reading James over and over it started to be a little more clear.  I thought about all the time I had spent “listening” to people while they taught.  That word listening is important because that is the action of the student or one being taught.  The teacher is the one “speaking.”  It started to make some sense as to why the teacher would have a more strict judgment.  The scriptures make it clear that the words that pass our lips matter regardless of our intent.  

James is very clear that more often than not a person’s speech can be guided by things other than the spirit of God.  Teachers must battle the world, flesh, and spiritual forces just like anyone else, but if they are teaching from the flesh and speaking with wisdom of the world or doctrines of demons they corrupt not just themselves but also those they teach.  It’s simple—if you’re the one talking you have more chances to screw things up than the person who is listening. 

So how does the listener know what kind of wisdom is being shared with them?  James gives the reader a comparison of wisdom of the world, flesh, and demonic versus wisdom from God.  He tells the reader that wisdom from God “is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical.”  Because God has already told us that His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts I think that puts the student at a disadvantage in determining the purity of wisdom being shared.  

So it seems like all things in a believer’s life: only by the power of the Holy Spirit can one be effective either as a teacher or as a student.  Once again the bar of God’s standard is set so high that only by Him can it be attained.


POINT OF ACTION:
Where does your wisdom come from?  The flesh? The world? Maybe demons? Or does your wisdom come from God? How can you know? 

Only by the power of the Holy Spirit can one teach God’s wisdom or discern if it’s being taught.  

We must all seek to be Spirit filled believers, which I have discovered isn’t easy.  It seems like no matter how many times I work to put the flesh to death it wakes up alive and well the next day.  The world has an endless supply of distractions to take one’s eye off the prize, and the smallest fiery dart from the enemy can at times set my whole being ablaze.  

How can anyone stand with so many things against us?  The only answer I know of is prayer.  It is very important for us to pray for one another and those whom we hold up as teachers.  They face the same battle as us except they have a large target on their back and only with the yoke of Christ can they bear the burden of being a teacher.


PRAYER:
Father throw off the yokes of oppression not formed by you and lay on each of us that good and perfect yoke fashioned by your Son.  Please help us die to self today and take up our cross and follow.  Bring a complete filling of your Holy Spirit so that we may be empowered to be used by you for your good and perfect will.  We ask that a special measure of grace and mercy be given to those you have called to be teachers.


WHO AM I?
My name is Paul Babb.  I love children, lambs, and guns.  I hate war and violence.  If it wasn’t for my woman I would never cut my hair or shave.  But we all have our cross to bear.