by J. Randal Matheny

"Si vis doceri, doce." --Marcus Tullius Cicero

"If you want to learn, teach." Perhaps Cicero's phrase lies behind the adage that no one learns more than the teacher.

Perhaps this was, in part, the Hebrew Christians' problem, when the writer of that letter expressed exasperation over their condition.

"Concerning him [Melchizedek] we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary 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 not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil" (Hebrews 5:11-14, NASB).

They should have been teachers. But they had not learned beyond the basic elements of the faith. Because they had not exercised themselves in more challenging material. They had not taken on the task of knowing and passing on what they knew.

Too many are waiting to learn before they start teaching. Wrong approach! Certainly, one must prepare and know one's subject, but what better way than to accept the challenge of teaching!

James doesn't want to discourage Christians from teaching, but he does tell us to weigh the responsibility. "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment" (James 3:1). Rather than diminish their ranks, he wants to increase the company of qualified teachers. He wants us to get serious with the task of teaching.

The old problem of credit and loans doesn't apply here. How to get credit? Get a loan. But to get a loan you need credit. (Actually, we can do very well living on a cash basis, without loans or credit, but that's another article.)

To learn, start teaching. To teach, start learning.

The dearth of teachers, when it occurs in Christ's church, is not from God's miserliness. It means somebody must be hiding his talent. Or not developing it.

Might that someone be you?

Only true and living God, we slobber over the most recent news and go hog-wild over the latest fashions.

May what is new not keep us from what is true. From Him who is true. Amen.

by Don Ruhl

Read Second Corinthians Chapter Ten

What do we gain if we compare ourselves with others? People often justify themselves or excuse their behavior, because I am better than... Okay, that might be true or it might not be true that you are better than the other person is. Are you better than every human on the earth is? If we are going to compare ourselves with others, then that is what we had better do, because we truly ought to be comparing ourselves with Jesus Christ, who is better than the entire world combined. Therefore, it is written,

12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise (2 Corinthians 10:12, NKJV).

Many things can go wrong when we compare ourselves with others. Why do it then? When we compare ourselves with Jesus Christ, we discover that we fall short of his glory and that we need his forgiveness. He is our Master and Teacher, not some man or woman with whom we are comparing ourselves.

Keep Jesus Christ as the focus of your life.

by Don Ruhl

Read Second Corinthians 11:1-15

Only heaven itself knows of the influence that Paul has all over the world centuries after he left the earth. Yet, listen to what the Holy Spirit allowed Paul to say truthfully about himself as a speaker (and remember that he was a preacher).

6 I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way (2 Corinthians 11:6, NIV).

Paul knew what he was speaking or writing about, but he was not the best speaker. That did not stop him from working for Christ, and it did not stop the Lord from using Paul. You know something; Moses had the same problem, but look at what he did for Israel and ultimately for the world! Now, what about you; can the Lord use you in spite of your deficiencies?