A TEACHER’S TASK

DAY 165

Matthew 5:19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

A simple but broad definition of teaching is this: ‘passing on what you know to others’. Therefore, God is often very hard on teachers – in His church, in the home and across every sphere of life, and with good reason: because this group of individuals occupy a delicate but influencial position.

Interestingly, at some point in our life, each of us occupies the shoes of a teacher. In both formal and informal ways, we pass on what we know to others: at home to children, at work, or in the church. This may be done with uncertainty, but in many cases, most teachers are convinced and passionate about what they pass on.

That is the danger because the accuracy of what is transmitted is much dependent on the body of knowledge from which it is drawn. You could, therefore, teach either truth or falsehood with great passion and conviction.

So teacher, make sure in the very least, you have veted whatever you are passing on through the lens of an objective standard: the unchanging Word of God. Whatever you teach should achieve two non-negotiable things: it SHOULD edify men, and it MUST glorify God.

#sly