Sunday: Accountability
Read James 3:1. What important point is he making here about accountability?
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
Teachers in the church and in Christian schools have an especially heavy responsibility because they shape minds and hearts in ways that will last for years. This effect includes the rippling impact they will have on many others beyond their immediate sphere of influence. The more we know, the more responsible we become for utilizing and imparting that knowledge.
At the entrance to the Tyndale House library in Cambridge, England, is a plaque reminding every scholar who enters there: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom
(Prov. 9:10). Man is not the measure of all things; God is, and all true education begins and ends with Him. Unfortunately, as knowledge increases, dependence on God tends to diminish. It is too often practiced and taught, for example, that science functions independently from God. Some teachers of theology, in striving for credibility, also may utilize methods that leave little or no room for faith. As a result, faith can gradually get squeezed out of the minds and hearts of both teachers and students. But as long as educating for eternity, not just for this world, is uppermost for teachers and students alike, learning will be a precious, even inspirational, endeavor.
Paul too understood this responsibility for he trained and ordained leaders in the churches he raised up (Acts 14:23, compare Titus 1:5). He even gave instructions to Timothy to guard God’s flock from inexperienced and unwise shepherds (see 1 Tim. 1:3-7; 1 Tim. 3:2-6; 1 Tim. 6:2-5; 2 Tim. 2:14-15), warning that some arealways learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth
(2 Tim. 3:7, NKJV).
Parents carry a weighty responsibility in teaching their children, who in turn influence others. All of us, in fact, by the example we set, can have a profound influence on those around us. How important then that we seek God’s wisdom, which He has promised us (James 1:5), that we might model His ways and exert a godly influence. For we all, for good or for bad, do exert influence over others.
Think about those who have influenced you in a positive way. What did they do? How did they impact you? And, most important, how can you do the same for others?
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As God's children, we are all call to build each other up,being also watchmen for each other, so that " no one can be lost".The way we use our words can loose or strengthen a brother or a sister. we therefore need God's help to have the appropriate use of our tongue.
The Holy Spirit is willing to do that;it's up to us to ask Him right now.
Balance in life does not come naturally. For many of us, our lives are lived in extremes. Incredible things happen when ministry and life are lived at their fullest. The problem however, is that when one area of our life is lived at an extreme, the others become out of balance.
Spending larger amounts of time in one area causes the other areas of our life to become anemic. Few vocations understand this more than the ministry. Our dedication to God and commitment to His church often cause us to have an imbalanced allocation of energy and time resources. Sadly, our families are too often the benefactors of the lessor of the imbalance.
Someone once said, “Time waits for no one!” How true! We really do only have one life and one chance at making the moments of every single day of that life count. Moments that are divided between our jobs, families and ministries. Moments that we will never get back. Moments that turn hours into days. Days into years and years into lifetimes.
Yes! teaching is a heavy responsibility. The more we learn the more the more we are compelled to deliver, but we must remember 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.(Prov. 9:10) and wisdom comes from God , and all true education beginnings and end with God . Our responsibility is, has our knowledge increases we must give God all the Credibility .
In light of Sunday's study of accountability and the influence of our words and actions, and the text of 2 Tim 3;7, will I then be held responsible and accountable for not (in love) correcting others, when what is not the whole truth is being spoken, lived or preached? How can we assist in the the shift from intellectual knowledge to experiencial and progressive truth?
That's a question I have as well.
Elsworth & Janet, Good question!
And I don’t claim to have the answer either. However, the story of Naboth and Jezebel (1 Kings 21) comes to my mind when I think about this question. Apparently, this gathering was arranged by Jezebel (enemy of God’s people) in the name of ‘fasting’(religious gathering as it appears). It also appears that prominent church members were involved in helping Jezebel organize this event.
Unfortunately, Naboth (God’s servant) was innocently murdered as the after math of this event. Would the story have ended up differently if the prominent members and elders of this congregation had spoken up (in defense of Naboth)? Probably, Yes. Naboth’s life could have been spared. Unfortunately, that was not the case, people who could have spoken up kept silence in fear of Jezebel.
The lesson here is that, God counts on us to speak up when things don’t (seem, look or feel) right in our societies, schools, churches, homes, & …etc.
It seems to me that when the truth is not being told, we are accessories to the sin of lying if we do not speak up to tell the truth.
It is not so much a matter of "correcting" others, as it is a matter of witnessing to the truth. Thus, I think our attitude will make a big difference. If our focus is on "correcting," it becomes sort of a context. If our focus is on "witnessing" the focus is more on the truth than on persons.
Does that make sense?
As the coming of Christ draws nearer, our responsibility becomes greater. This is simply because the devil is unleashing all of his deceptive power through every possible medium. The world is getting darker and darker, therefore, our lights need to shine brighter. Unfortunately, we have become extremely complacent with the truth and have a bad dose of the Laodicean syndrome.
The inside story is a means of encouragement to those of us who are fulfilling the Matthew 28:19,20 mandate. On the other hand it is a stern rebuke to the careless and indifferent. This is simply because most of us are more physically fortunate than he is, yet we find all sorts of excuses why we are not able to accomplish what the Lord requires of us.
I once heard someone say that hell is going to be worst for Seventh-day Adventists than anyone else. Simply because the more you know the more you will burn. It is my prayer that by God's grace, our speech and deportment will bring others closer to Jesus and not result in our damnation and the damnation of others.
Hello, I agree with your general sentiments. I did want, however, to register my concern over this statement:
This is not the SDA picture of the character of God or of the nature of the judgement.
Good point Andrew!
And even if we applied common sense to that statement, what good would it do anyways if God did that? He'll be mourning over His lost children and I can't even imagine that He'd even the morale to pay attention to all those details about hell. It is true, though according to the scriptures that, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.” (Lk 12:48). I don’t think this scripture would back up their statement either.
Andrew, it seems to me that's a figure of speech to emphasize that the more truth God entrusts to us, the more responsibility we have.
Yolande,
In various places both scripture and spirit of prophecy lend support to your comment. In fact Jesus commented, "But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee." (Matthew 11:20-24).
Statements like these are merciful in intent, meant to wake us up. Jesus declares the real and stark consequences ahead of time, not simply to scare us, but to get our attention, and save us if we are willing.
"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil." (1 Timothy 3:2-6)
It is said “familiarity breeds contempt.” There is a tendency to relax the spiritual consciousness at home or in situations where everyone is very well known and loose rein is given to the tongue or conduct. So one may say whatever comes to the mind or do whatever feels good and justify it by the thought that he/she is just being himself/herself or ‘keeping it real.’ At this point we ought to remember we are not called to be ourselves, but to be like Christ. As well that which we practice with the familiar (immediate family) prepares us to relate to the unfamiliar (distant family). Godliness begins at home, even in the heart.
"Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people." Colossians 3:23.
We are all accountable. What a powerful statement! James is not just speaking to minsters, elders and teachers, each and every individual who has taken the name of Jesus. Within the sphere of our influence, whether that be our home, neighborhood, work or church, we all carry the divine responsibility to influence others for good. Think of the number of souls that have been affected by our words and deeds.
We are told "the humblest and poorest of the disciples of Jesus can be a blessing to others. They may not realize that they are doing any special good, but by their unconscious influence they may start waves of blessing that will deepen and widen, and the blessed results they may never realize until the day of final reward." Step to Christ, p.85
They trusted God, no matter what condition, what wealth they were given - and God was using them in amazing ways! They had peace and comfort in God`s plan for them, worries did not occupied they minds, they were sensitive to Holy Spirit and needs of others.
Thinking about those who have influenced me in a positive way.
What did they do? How did they impact me?
My parents (May God bless them mightily)!!! - Growing up as the naughtiest child in the family, I really did not care for school. Just wished I could stay home and play in the mud just like any other child in my neighborhood. Besides, my school grades were not that great. I sometimes wondered why my parents would not just pull me out and save the rest of their money for something else. However, my parents believed in my potentials. They saw something in me that I could not see. And because of that, they did everything possible; prayed for me and cheered me up, through school. Eventually as an adult, I’ve finally caught their vision. Now, I can almost say that, school is next to my religion. Thanks to parents out there who are determined not to give up on their children.
My 1st grade school teacher, Mrs. Omamo (I owe her much)! - She always sat by my side during class activities, to keep me focused. Like I mentioned, I was not the best student in class but her words of cheer totally changed my perspective about school. I stayed in school since then and I keep going back for more education. God is so good! Thanks to teachers out there who are determined to do everything it takes to keep their students encouraged.
How can I do the same for others?
Dear Father,
Please help me to be a positive influence for my students. May I be able to impact them for Your kingdom, in Jesus’ name.
I also sugest that as teachers we should walk our talk. Since aprt from imparting knowledge of faith on Lord God the father and Lord Jesus Christ our action in relation to what we taught will add more value.
Daddy has influenced me so much. He is honest, says things as they are, and loves without limits. He has taught me not to judge people but rather to love them and be there for them, to speak truth in love and to stand for God though I stand alone. And he has shown me that there is a Heavenly Father whose love will never fade, who loves me regardless of anything. And so in confidence I can also tell someone that God truly loves them.
I wonder if we may be missing a big part of the point if we consider that "masters"/"teachers" refers only to formal teaching positions. I rather doubt that at the time James wrote his letter that the Christian church had any formal teaching positions.
The Amplified Bible puts it this way:
If we accept that, this counsel goes along with Christ's statement:
in fulfillment of the New Covenant promise
It seems to me that this should be a double warning to us:
1)We have no business playing Holy Spirit and telling people what to do or not to do. Rather if we are all siblings under Christ, our attitude should be one of sharing. After praying about it to make sure we are in harmony with the Spirit, we might say, "This is my experience with the Lord" ... and ... "This is how I understand it."
2) It should warn us not to give any person spiritual authority over us, since we are all "siblings" under Christ who wants to teach us personally. We should especially avoid elevating one particular person as our go-to person on spiritual matters. The elevation of certain people in independent ministries can conceivably contribute to their spiritual downfall as well as the downfall of those who depend on them.
I understand that, since James's warning was given within the context of the faith community, it applies within the community. God has designed that the body of Christ should be a channel of blessings to the world, thus we should have something to offer that the world does not have. And if we have an experience with Christ, we can speak with authority regarding what He has done for us and what He will do for them if they allow it. And we can speak with authority of the truths of the gospel so that they, too, might join the faith community where the Holy Spirit is their personal Teacher.