Teaching God's Word may be Hazardous for your Spiritual Health

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

Pray

Many moons ago I gave a speech - I taught a class - about the Cuban Missile Crisis. I remember I had a poster board with pictures I’d secured with Elmers Glue. I had a friend of mine write in bubble letters: Cuban Missile Crisis. It had some JFK quotes. It was good stuff. The speech was an informational speech so I just had to tell people about what happened: which I had only one problem with - I didn’t really do enough research to be able to talk for five minutes about what happened. It was quite a mess. So, I did what any good college student would do - I made stuff up. I made up dates, and elaborated on the story - I was just grabbing for anything - hoping that if I just sounded confident, than I wouldn’t have much to worry about. But there was just one problem - the teacher. He knew all about it because he experienced it growing up. He was one of the kids who had to hide under his desk during bomb drills.

In God’s good providence, the professor liked me because when I was done he looked at me and asked, “you didn’t do much study on this topic, did you Josh?” To which I said, “sometimes, less is more.” To which he said, “not in this case.” I don’t remember my grade, but it was passing.

Transition: As we look to our text tonight what we see is a grave warning to those who would teach God’s word - a caution sign if you would - saying be aware, being a teacher of God’s Word may be hazardous for your spiritual health.

So, some in here may be thinking: I’d like to be a pastor one day, whether vocationally, like me, or a lay pastor - well I hope you listen to James’ warning. And, for all the leaders in this room that teach on occasion, whether in Sunday school or T2 or retreat type settings, pay attention.

James 3:1 ESV

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers.”

Warning

So James begins (v.1) by discouraging Christians - that’s the “my brothers” part - from becoming teachers. Now, let’s set this warning in its rightful context.

During the early church the office of teacher was roughly the same thing as a Jewish Rabbi. In fact, John even points this direction in when he writes “Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher).”

So a Rabbi was like a teacher, but Rabbi literally means “my great one” or “my superior one” and the religious elite during the days of Jesus loved being called Rabbi and Rabboni - it was a title of honor, a prestigious title, and it was a position of honor. One thing that my wife has taught me over the years, and that I am truly grateful for, is honoring those who are older than I am. And, a practical way that I’ve learned to do this is by calling them Mrs. and Mr. first name. So take Randy Lovelady, a deacon of many years in our church, I was with him on Monday and I called him Mr. Randy. A small way of showing respect.I think students, if you mean it from the heart, growing to be that type of person, like my wife is honorable. That’s why I call Glen, Pastor Glen, so often.

rabbi literally means “my great one” or “my superior one” and the religious elite during the days of Jesus loved being called Rabbi and Rabboni - it was a title of honor and it was a position of honor. In fact, - C

So the office of teacher was an honorable and IS an honorable position. And in his context too many were seeking the status of teacher without the necessary moral and perhaps even intellectual qualifications - like I had with the Cuban Missile Crisis - I didn’t know what I was talking about.

James wasn’t thinking that the office of a teacher was a bad thing, because it’s actually a gift of the Holy Spirit and something Paul says should be sought after “But earnestly desire the higher gifts” (). Paul commends the believers in Corinth to covet and run after the gifts that most honor Christ and the gifts that most edify the church - which teaching is high ranked among those. So we are to want them, like more than we want the Apple 3 Watch, more than we want to finish our Netflix binge tonight and more than we want our team to win the series. So seek these gifts, but be warned, “Not many of you should become teachers.” There is nuance here. Paul says go get ‘em champ - desire those higher gifts. Seek after them because in them Christ is highly honored and the church is built up. But, then James says “tap the breaks bro, not many of you should do this thing here.”

Why would James say this?

1. More Severe Judgment Awaits

He tells us in (v.1) “For you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

Wait, what? A more severe judgment awaits me - than you - Bubba? Well, that doesn’t seem right. Oh, but it is. We see this principle played out in Scripture.

The principle of judgment or the way judgment works goes something like this:

(A) Knowing what you should do makes you accountable to doing it. We see this principle come alive in which says, “For what can be known about God is plain to them [everybody, you included] because God has shown it to them. [20] For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made [that’s nature]. So they are without excuse.”

We all know God exists - even though most deny that - God has made Himself plain in nature. You don’t go to the Grand Canyon or the Rocky Mountains and think to yourself, “I’m awesome. I’m the center of the universe. I run all things.” Really, no you go there and think, “wow. God is great. His hand is mighty. His mind is wise. His Word created all this? Power baby. That’s power.” So because of this knowledge that we all have - including atheists - we are accountable to respond to God positively in Jesus.

So the principle is knowing what you should do makes you accountable. But Scripture goes a step further to explain another principle...

(B) Knowing more makes you more accountable to doing it. This principle arises in the teachings of Jesus and is confirmed here in . Here’s how Jesus puts it: there’s a servant who knew what his master wanted, he knew the will of his master, but he did not act to get ready, in essence, even though he knew he did not act according to the will of the master and what Jesus says is this guy will receive a severe beating. And then we read this: “But the one who [notice] did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive [notice] a light beating [not a severe beating]. [And now Jesus makes his point] Everyone to who much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”

Now we know that knowing what to do makes you accountable to do it and the more you know the more you are accountable to do.

When I first started working here at the church over 5 years ago! When I would come to work I would race to park my car underneath the awning over by the main building of the church. It’s Texas and it is hot in the summers. Black cars and Texas heat do not mix. So I would race to park there, because I thought that the first person to park there got the spot. Serisouly, I remember seeing Judi park there the most, but sometimes Jonathan (the old music pastor) and even Glen would park there on occasion. So after doing this for a few months we were sitting in staff meeting and Judi just burst open like a damn of water and said, “Josh, quit parking in my spot! That’s my spot! I’ve worked here for so and so years. This is my benefit.”

Before that meeting I didn’t know that - I had no knowledge, but I’m sure everyday for months that I parked there she was stewing - but then that afternoon I go the information - I knew. And now, I park there with the knowledge that I’ll receive the judgment and wrath and anger of Judi. Just like if you decide to park in a Senior’s spot. They can have your car removed by the principals.

So James says - look you want to teach, not so fast - you who teach more severe judgment awaits you. If I could wager, Old Man spends more time building the blueprints for tools on a computer than anyone else in our church, and if I was a betting man Greg spends more time with a drug dog than anyone in our church, and Christi spends more time managing a floor of nurses than anyone or on par with anyone in our church, and Pastor Glen, Trent and I spend more time studying God’s Word than anyone in our church. It’s what we do for a living. It puts food on the table. And so with much knowledge comes great responsibility.

Do you know why I care about teaching God’s Word and not popular opinion or just funny stuff that will entertain you?

Listen to the words of Paul speaking about the teaching arm of the church (specifically his):

1 Corinthians 3:13–15 ESV

each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

1 Corinthians 3:12–15 ESV

Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

1 Corinthians

“Now if anyone builds on the foundation [that’s Jesus, so if anyone begins to teach about Christ] with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each one’s work will become manifest [so the teachers work will be made plain], for the Day [that’s judgment day] will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work [what sort of teaching and preaching] has been done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up [so that would be teaching like wood, hay, straw, watered down teaching], he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire” ().

I don’t want my life’s work and my cumulative teaching to be burned up at judgment, because all it was, was cute sayings and funny stories. I want it to shine through the judgment. I want my teaching to be marked by a BIG SOVEREIGN GOD, A LOVING/RESCUING SAVIOR, and a small in great need man.

I’m being serious with you guys. I read over this text as I was studying and I kept asking God: should I continue teaching? Am I living what I teach? Am I preparing with the zeal and passion to see God glorified in my teaching and you, students, love Him through my teaching? Do I take it seriously? Or is this just a paycheck?

So I know more, Nathan you know more, leaders you know more, students who’ve taught on occasion - you know more.

How does your life align to your teaching? Does the rubber meet the road? Are you living these truth’s out, even imperfectly?

Because if it’s just something you do because you like the prestige, you love the limelight, you like being called on, you like “knowing the answer”, but there is no authenticity no real zeal for Christ’s glory. Heed James’ warning.

So the warning is extended “not many of you should become teachers,” first because a more severe judgment awaits and second because teachers are more at risk for judgment because we engage in an activity in which it’s the hardest to keep from sinning - speech - we talk a bunch.

2. Speech is a Platform for Sin

We see that (v.2) reads, “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.” James admits here that everyone stumbles in many ways. But those who don’t stumble in what they say are perfect men. Now, there are no perfect men beside, Jesus Christ, the Son of God born of the Virgin Mary.

Students, what James is saying is speech is a platform for sin. Be warned teachers you will say a lot and “who hasn’t said something they immediately regretted?”

This aspect of the warning was more convicting for me because I have a tendency to let my tongue fly. And there are times when I hurt others or say things that may be untrue. The teacher, especially the pastor, has great influence in the life of the church - that’s why the NT letters have so many warnings about false teachers.

Listen to Peter’s warning against such false teachers: “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you [so look there will be these people teaching within the church], who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master [that’s Christ] who bout them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. [Now listen to what these false teachers have coming] Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep” (). In short anyone who takes this lightly and becomes a false teacher - well they will pay.

So, what’s our takeaway?

In short they are paying and will pay.

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First, for everyone - God wants you to share His truth, to share the good news of Jesus with everyone. This passage is not meant to frighten you from that - but it is meant to center you. Understand student, that God desires that you represent Him in your words as accurately as you know how and as thoroughly as you know how. Don’t walk away from sharing about God because of this text, rather, I would say get serious about sharing about Christ because of this text.

Think of it like you know that in your next b-ball game you would be put on the free throw line down by one with no time left on the clock. You have two shots. You make two, you win; you make one, you go into overtime; you make none, you lose.

Well, having that knowledge what would you do?

You’d hit the free throw line everyday after practice. 200 shots per day. Finish with five straight buckets. That’s what I would do. And I believe that’s what you would do. So work to know God’s word and the gospel as well as you can and work to share it as clearly as you can.

Second, for teachers - you should never begin to teach God’s Word without a deep sense of the seriousness and the responsibility you have in opening up God’s word for His people. It is bad enough to sin with your words with one or two friends, but when you teach publically it is multiplied. It is much more severe. You may lead astray 30 instead of one. Speaking for God carries with it great implications, both for good and for ill. So teachers of God’s word take inventory of your heart, your life and your words.

Do you take your responsibility seriously?

Does your life align with your teaching?

Are the words that you are saying pointing others to Christ or away from Christ?

Spiritual Application

Be warned teaching God’s Word may be Hazardous for your spiritual health. “not many of you should become teachers” because a more strict judgment awaits and those who teach are more at risk for judgment because we engage in an activity in which it’s the hardest to keep from sinning - speaking. So there is honor in being a teacher of God’s word and with that honor and with that knowledge comes great responsibility.