The Man Who Ought Not To Be a Teacher

“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” James 3:1

A scholar and a teacher is always under double temptation. He is under the temptation to arrogance. Arrogance was the besetting sin of the Rabbis. Few are in such constant spiritual peril as teachers and preachers. They are used to be listened to and having their words accepted. It is difficult to be a teacher or a preacher and remain humble; but it is absolutely necessary. He is under the temptation to…know how easily learned discussions can produce passion. One of the most difficult things in the world is to discuss without passion and to make your arguments without wounding. Sir Thomas Browne wrote on the savagery of scholars towards each other, “Scholars are men of peace, they bear no arms; but their tongues are sharper than a razor; their pens carry farther and give a louder sound than thunder.” To be utterly convinced of one’s own beliefs without at the same time being bitter to those of others is no easy thing; and yet it is a first necessity for the Christian teacher and scholar.

James 3:13-14 says, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.” We find in this passage four characteristics of the wrong kind of teaching:

1. It is fanatical.

2. It is bitter.

3. It is selfishly ambitious.

4. It is arrogant.

Its attitude is pride in its knowledge rather than humility in its ignorance. The real scholar will be far more aware of what he does not know than what he knows.

James 3:15-16 goes on to say, “This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” Its source is not of God but of the devil. It produces the kind of situations that the devil delights in. Instead of bringing people together, it drives them apart. Instead of producing peace, it produces strife.

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace (Jas. 3:17-18).

• True wisdom is pure. True wisdom is so cleansed of all ulterior motives and of self that it has become pure enough to see God. Worldly wisdom might well wish to escape God’s sight;

true wisdom is able to bear His very scrutiny.

• True wisdom is peaceable. True wisdom produces right relationships. True wisdom at all times brings men close to one another and to God.
• True wisdom is gentle (considerate). The man with true wisdom knows how to forgive when strict justice gives him a perfect right to condemn. He knows how to make allowances. Matthew Arnold called it “sweet reasonableness.” It is the ability to extend to others the kindly consideration we would wish to receive ourselves.
• True wisdom is willing to yield. It is easy to persuade, not in the sense of being pliable or weak, but in the sense of not being stubborn and being willing to listen to reason and to appeal. It is not rigid but is willing to listen and is skilled in knowing when wisely to yield.
• True wisdom is full of mercy and good fruits. Christian mercy is mercy for any man that has trouble; even if he has brought it on himself. Christian pity is not merely an emotion; it is action. We can never say we have pitied anyone unless we have helped them.
• True wisdom is (undivided) without partiality. It is not wavering or vacillating. Christian wisdom is based on Christian certainties, which come to us from God through Jesus Christ.
• True wisdom is without hypocrisy. It does not deal in deception. It is honest; it never pretends to be what it is not; and it never acts a part to gain its own ends.
• True wisdom bears fruits of righteousness. The only people who can sow these seeds and reap the reward are those whose life and work has been to produce such right relationships. The man who disturbs personal relationships and is responsible for strife and bitterness has cut himself off from the reward that God gives to those who live His life.

Gleaned from the Letter of James by William Barclay