Me? A teacher? (Continuing in Ezra 7)

We saw last week that we should strive to study and obey the Word of God. Like Ezra, we need to be "devoted" to that study, and learn more about how to obey our Savior, becoming more like Him in the process.

Something else that we need to learn from the seventh chapter is that study and obedience are the foundation stones for teaching others.
Not everybody is gifted to teach in a public setting.
Some of us have serious reservations (translate that "fears") about getting up in front of a group of people and trying to speak in a coherent manner. (Grin) The idea of trying to tell other people (any other people) anything whilst standing behind a podium makes our knees knock together, just thinking about it.
But whatever the Spirit has taught us when we have studied His Word, and whatever we have learned as we apply His Word to our lives, really ought to be passed along to others whom God places in our circle of influence. If we talk to others and reveal what we know in our head, but then we don't practice it in our lives, we become just like the Pharisees of Jesus' day . . . in a word, we become hypocrites.
That doesn't mean that we need to be perfect, and that we can't pass along what we've learned until we are. No way! That is unattainable; there has only been one perfect Person on this earth! We are striving to be more and more like Him, but perfection? Nope. Ain't gonna happen.
For that reason, our teaching, or our conversations with others, should be seasoned with phrases like, "the Spirit taught me," "it's my understanding from my studies," and things like that.

No, we don't have to be perfect before we teach someone a concept that we learned from God's Word, but we do need to have integrity -- that means admitting our shortcomings, and it also means an honest effort to apply what we've learned to our own lives!

Preachers, pastors, leaders of all kinds (even study blog authors!) must try very hard to avoid this trap. We study the Word so that we can tell everyone else about it; we may find a nugget that talks about how to speak to others, or how to avoid a sin, or some other important concept. Then, we try to tell others about our "nugget," but we must be very careful to apply it to our own lives, too! I saw a quote from Charles Spurgeon who said if a man's life at home was unworthy, he had better go several miles away before he stands up to preach!

In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned,  (Titus 2:7-8a)

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9)

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

Last time we were reminded by our passage in Ezra that seeking God's blessing should be our top priority. Seek Him before all else.  We've seen that His blessings come to those who study and obey His Word. Today we are reminded that our best teaching for others can come from the examples we set. We can all be teachers, whether in personal or in private settings.