A GOOD TEACHER

Do you believe that a teacher's life can be transferred to his student?

One day my friend told me that she has a problem with her attitude. She's just realized that she is a kind of person who is easy to make a prejudice over people. When people disappoint her, she'll try to make them pay for it, or at least make them feel guilty. Noticing her feeling, she told me that she wanted to be free from it, from always thinking negatively upon others. She also told me a shocking conclusion, that she never gets the way of thinking from her family or friends, but from her teacher who has taught her for almost her lifetime.

Hearing her story, it's difficult for me to believe it at first. Knowing that a teacher could influence the student that way is a little bit surprising me. But, when I rethink it over, I think it is possible. A teacher might never teach the students to be bad, but if the teacher lives in such life, she is able to transfer that kind of life to her students, without noticing it.

Being a teacher is not easy. It takes more than just knowledge to present to the students. It needs a good heart and spirit. The Bible even told us to rethink it again of becoming a teacher, for it will be judge more strictly. Let us see Jesus' disciples, they didn't only know about the law, but also took their teacher's path, they lived like Him (except Judas). He is definitely the perfect teacher which has ever existed. But, being a good teacher like Jesus is definitely not easy. We need Holy Spirit to lead us. If not, we will be categorized as false teachers.

If you are a teacher, ask God to fill you more with His character. You could be genius and your students love you. But if your life isn't filled with divine character and you still live in sinful life (anger, hatred, pornography, lies, adultery, jealousy, etc), don't be surprised if you find your students live like you. It is not fully their fault, but it is also yours. Keep your heart and life holy when you teach your students, because their life is depending on you.

Dear God, I want to be a good teacher like You. Forgive me who lives in unholy life, who lives in anger and hatred, who lives in lies, etc. Purify me, God, for I don't want my students become like me. Help me to be a teacher like You. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Jas. 3:1