Great condemnation

Jas 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

All too often people will strive to be superior to others, advancing their knowledge so they can impart it. In truth aren't we encouraged to spread the gospel? We are to let our lights shine, right?

Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven

Yet we are NOT all called to be teachers, right?

1Co 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

This verse in James tells us outright- 'be NOT MANY masters'.

Another word for master is teacher- 'be NOT MANY teachers.'

If everyone was a teacher there would be none to fill the other duties needed, right? The plain truth is that not everyone can teach and yet so many strive to become teachers, to become those who know the in-depth knowledge only deep scholars can know. Barring that, many try to pretend to be teachers having vast amounts of knowledge to impart to others. We are told 'be NOT MANY masters', so where does that leave people? If we are not to try to become so knowledgeable that we can teach? We are to become those who learn and live what we learn in our everyday lives, not seeking to be masters of it all and make that our calling. That verse doesn't stop there though, it goes on to say that MASTERS will receive GREATER condemnation.

Why? Why should masters receive greater condemnation?

It follows along this line--

Mat 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

A master- a teacher- who is not truly called to be a teacher but has made it their own desire to become a teacher is not following down the path God would have them follow. They become hypocrites in their desire to teach, and that desire is NOT based upon what God would have of them, but what THEY want. They want the accolades of a scholar, they want the superiority of a teacher lording over their students, they want the authority, the position of power and NOT the things that God would truly have of His teachers. When they take on teaching for the wrong, wrong reasons they become hypocrites and have greater condemnation than those who do not seek their own glory in any way at all.

It's important for us to know this because we have to understand that we need to follow God's will and not our own, never our own.

Please Lord help us NOT to seek to be masters, but if any of us are to be masters give us the strength and the courage, the heart love of You to know this is a true calling from you and NOT a hypocritical desire. Please Lord we do not seek great condemnation, we are Your students forever and You are great Master.

Guide us into all knowledge of You, teach us Your gospel, reveal the Kingdom to us Lord all through Your love, Your forgiveness, Your mercy, Your grace and YOUR righteousness!


In You Lord!

Amen.