James: More GraceSample

What should you look for in teachers of God’s word?

God’s word is very powerful. God gives believers birth spiritually ‘through the word of truth’ (1:18). Now James is calling his wayward readers back to ‘humbly accept the word planted in [them], which can save [them]’ (1:21). This word comes to the congregation through teachers. So what James says next is, at first sight, very surprising.

• How many people in this congregation should become teachers (v. 1)?

This is a shock. You might think this dysfunctional community of Christians needs as many teachers of God’s word as they can get!

• Why is it that not many in this way- ward congregation should become teachers (v. 1)?

Teachers have great power to help or harm God’s people. Their words are heard not just by one or two individuals but by everyone. And their example will be followed, for good or ill. No wonder James says that ‘we who teach will be judged more strictly’.

To be a teacher of God’s word you need, according to the New Testament, to teach in two ways – lip and life. You need to teach the truth with your lips, but you also need to model that truth in how you live.

The Christians James is writing to don’t seem to be ‘walking the talk’, so few of them are fit to be teachers. There are gaps and inconsistencies everywhere! They claim to have faith but obedient deeds are sorely lacking. The way they are treating each other is very different from how God in his mercy has treated them. These double- minded believers are pursuing pleasure rather than godliness, and loving the world more than God (4:1–4).

James’ readers may need some convincing of the truth of his shocking assessment of them. So James goes on to talk to them about talking. Teachers of course are usually very gifted at talking, but being good at communication skills is not enough to be a teacher of God’s word.

Our words reveal so much about us, as James will go on to show. What he has to say will humble his readers and it should humble us too. Perhaps many of James’ readers were keen to set themselves up as teachers in the congregation. But if you want to know how suitable you are to talk about God in this way, look at how you talk about everyone else!

Pray

Pray for the teacher sin your own congregation, that they would live out the truth they teach.