I have a friend who has excelled in many areas of his life. He played college football and obtained a scholarship to a major University; he ran for office in state politics, became a congressman, and assumed the top job in the House where he served several years. He changed professions and entered the academic world and assumed the top job at a major University.
In a nutshell he has been successful in everything that he has attempted.
It would come as no surprise that people would follow this man who has exemplified leadership in so many different areas of his life. Yesterday several couples accompanied him to take a look at some property that he and his wife were considering buying. He wanted to show us a river on the back of the property and we lit out after him. At first we were walking on a road, but then started following a well-used trail, that soon turned into a mere semblance of a trail. As we walked, the terrain became more and more formidable, and soon it became especially hostile to the ladies who were not dressed for a hike in the mountains. I asked several times if he was sure he knew where the river was, and he disdainfully looked at me as though I’d lost my mind, and assertively announced that he knew exactly where the river was, and in fact that it was just ahead.
Our little group crossed logs, fought through brambles, and were scratched by various limbs, and then our shoes became soaked as we crossed a swampy bog. The trail ran out and the forest became more and more dense and it seemed to me that we were meandering randomly as we dutifully followed our trailblazer.
We were meandering randomly!
In spite of our fearless leader’s best efforts to mask the fact that he was lost, it became readily apparent to even the most ardent of his followers that in spite of his assurances otherwise, he was hopelessly lost or confused, or both.
I watched with interest as the group began to grumble and one by one each of the members began to openly question his prowess as a guide and guru. He was not oblivious to the grumbling and finally after an hour or so of stumbling through the forest, he announced to sighs of relief that he was abandoning the search for the river. Somehow we found our way back to the vehicles and as the members limped up to the car bedraggled and panting from the vigorous hike, I saw him standing there smiling, and I observed him handing each of the ladies some wild daisies that he picked as a peace offering.
It didn’t work. One of the ladies whose snappy white and navy blue outfit displayed both mud and blood from a deep scratch in her leg glowered at him and snapped that he could just keep his $#*@ flower.
It was a funny moment that illustrated to me just how quickly my friend fell from the great esteem that he once enjoyed. I seriously doubt whether any of the group will follow my buddy into the woods or trust his judgment as a guide ever again. Even though he has succeeded mightily in every area of his life and in spite of his best efforts to make amends, it was too little too late. No one in their right mind is going to follow him into the woods again.
Hmmm . . . This reminds me of how quickly our Christian witness can be snatched from us. In spite of our hard work, great accomplishments, and years of faithful service, one boo boo in our Christian walk can corrupt our testimony in the eyes of so many. The Bible cautions that not many should become teachers and I think in part this might be the reason. Unfortunately God seems to unfairly receive the blame when one of His representatives falls to sin or corruption. I know that those who follow my ramblings regularly should look more towards my biblical references than my musings. God’s word is infallible and I’m not . . . If I could teach one thing to those who follow Words for the Day, it would be to read the Bible and discern its truths for yourself and make up your mind from its pure advice and not mine . . . I take seriously the verse below and so too should those of you who teach . . .
James 3:1
Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.