“BE NOT MANY MASTERS”
“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation” (KJV, Jam. 3:1). Compare the NKJV which reads, “My brethren. Let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (NKJV, Jam. 3:1). The word ‘masters” takes us back to a different time when the word actually was shortened from the word “schoolmasters” (Coffman Commentary on James). Even today in some private schools they use the term “Headmaster” to identify the one who is in charge of the school. Now that we have had a brief lesson on the word the purpose of this article is to focus on the word “teachers”.
Every congregation needs teachers. Often announcements are made encouraging folks to teach. Sometimes we become desperate and if someone is moving we grab them and say. “Here go teach this class. Please!” While never considering if they are qualified either in knowledge or life. Teachers must be faithful Christians but let’s identify what we mean.
1. Teachers must first be faithful in attendance. Teachers who do not attend on Sunday and Wednesday night (exception of those who work) are not good examples to others. A teacher can’t stand in the classroom on Sunday morning and teach “But seek ye first the kingdom of God…” (Mt. 6:33) and stay home to cut the grass, watch a TV program, go to a movie, etc. on Sunday and Wednesday evening.
2. Teachers lives must be above reproach. Paul’s instruction to Timothy was, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12).
3. Teachers must be dedicated students of the Word of God. Paul’s instruction to Timothy was to “Study to show thyself approved…” (2 Tim 2:15). Also in that same chapter Paul wrote, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2). Lesson preparation is important and a student can detect in a heartbeat the teacher who is not prepared.
4. Teachers must be supporters of the work of the local congregation. Teacher’s efforts are to guide the minds of those whom they teach. If the teachers do not support the elders (Heb. 13:17), their fellow teachers (Heb. 10:24) and the good works of the local congregation they will not be able to convey that to their students.
It is a wonderful thing to be a Bible class teacher. There are many throughout our great brotherhood. We need to show them our appreciation. Many boys and girls have gone on to be elders, preachers, teachers, wives of elders and preachers because they were influenced in the classroom at a local congregation. God bless our teachers.
Larry