You should be a teacher

Its’ time to step into our calling. Heb 5:12-14 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need [someone] to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes [only] of milk [is] unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, [that is], those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. All men are called to be teachers. While we may not have the title of teacher, mature people are looked upon as those who have learned some valuable lessons throughout life. Every one of us has looked at the mistakes made by someone younger and thought if only you had asked me. I could have warned you and protected you. All mature men should be teachers. Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Many of our younger men are dull of heart and mind because no one has sharpened them. Like you, I have seen the bumper sticker that says we’re out spending our child’s inheritance. Unfortunately all too often they’re spending the spiritual inheritance as well.

Mature teachers have a mature diet. The writer does NOT say that we don’t need the basics or a strong foundation. He does say we’re not to stay focused on those. We need to progress in our spiritual intake. We need Christmas & Easter messages but they are foundations. Most Christians could teach the stories of Christmas and Easter. Many could tell the story of David and Goliath or of Moses parting the Red Sea. Those are all wonderful stories from the bible. They are critical to laying a foundation for learning. A teacher learns to apply facts and figures to life. Knowing the multiplication tables without being able to apply them to life is of questionable value. Without application the facts are of little use. However, if we learn to apply facts then they become very useful. I have never been asked to multiply 10*12 on a job application. It is extremely valuable to be able to multiply ones hourly pay by the number of hours in a week to determine weekly pay. Have you ever asked yourself these questions “Why should I care about Moses parting the Red Sea? Why should I care about a teenaged boy defeating a giant named Goliath 3,000 years ago? What does it look like to love my neighbor as myself? Is it possible to really pray without ceasing?” There is so much more to learn from the Bible and about God’s kingdom than facts and figures. Dive into the meat of God’s word.

Mature teachers know the difference between right and wrong. If we hope to attain to spiritual maturity we must first understand what it is. God doesn’t leave us wondering about spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity is the ability to discern right from wrong. Notice what it does take to attain to spiritual maturity. Those who have their senses (view of life) exercised or tested. Exercise is conducted with a plan and purpose in mind. If one wants to become a world class runner they don’t start lifting huge amounts of weight. There is nothing wrong with lifting weights it’s just that it doesn’t contribute to the goal of becoming a world class runner. The one who wants to be a world class runner starts running. They buy proper shoes. They start a proper diet. They do the things that contribute toward reaching that goal. The same is true of our spiritual growth and maturity. Set a plan or a goal this year. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. It is not God’s plan that you and I stay the same. It is God’s will and plan for you and me that we grow and mature this year so we are better equipped to teach.

Without question you can be and should be a teacher.