SOAP Devotional 2014-03-03
Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer
Scripture:
Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. (James 3:1 NLT)
Observation:
James spoke of a problem in the church. People getting saved and then everyone presuming they could teach others even when they were not qualified to do so. He warns that “we”, including himself, will be held accountable before God for what others do that we teach.
Application:
In another place in scripture it speaks of not laying hands on others to quickly. This was to allow them to be teaching elders in the church. Not everyone is qualified to teach others and certainly those who have yet to spend adequate time being discipled and knowledgeable about the word. We do a disservice to the church when we encourage people to teach who are yet to be qualified to teach. It is equally appalling when those who have not been trained properly start trying to lead on their own. The Lord, himself, set order for spiritual authority in the church (Ephesians 4) and we would be wise to work within that structure to disciple and train others for ministry. Otherwise we end up with whole communities of faith that are built on the flimsy foundation of misquoted out of context scriptures and their poor teachers will answer to God for their folly.
Prayer:
Father, never let me work outside the realm of where you placed me. And give me wisdom when releasing others to do ministry. Let me only do so, when you guide me to do so, and let me do so slowly as they gain wisdom from you, your word, and sound instruction.
