Taking It to Work:
It is said, “We are all teachers in the school of life,” whether we want to be or not. The truth is, when we are merely around people, they are learning from us.
I remember being in a meeting with a senior engineer who was acting as a lead on a small team. There were eight or nine of us around the table, and the project was a bit intense. I was one of the newest and youngest members of the team. In that meeting, two of the the other high level engineers had serious concerns, and were forcefully giving their opinion to this senior engineer.
I watched closely as the senior engineer listened and absorbed the criticism and well-worded logic, as his teammates leaned in over the table making their case. I was so curious how he was gong to handle it. I watched, and as the two engineers finished their argument, my eyes shifted to the lead. There was about two seconds of silence, and then he looked at the leader of the two. He said only one word – “Understood.” There was one more thing stated from one of them, and again he responded as he nodded his head slightly downward, “Understood.” Then he moved on to his next item.
I was so impressed. You know how impressed I was? It’s twenty-five years later, and I still use that response. It works so well in so many situations. That lead had no idea that day, but he was my teacher, and I was his student. “Understood,”…it was genius. I’ve used it a thousand times professionally, with my teens, and my wife has even heard it a time or two as well.
What my lead did unintentionally that day, I do on purpose today. I share it with you, and hopefully you can put it to good use in your life.
Biblically, we have a mandate to do just that, be good teachers. I believe it goes hand-in-hand with being generous to others. If God has blessed us with knowledge, education, and experience, and we refuse to share it, or hold it tight to our chest, it is very similar to being blessed financially, or materially, and keeping it all to yourself.
The scriptures today talk of importance of teaching and passing down God’s Word, and the application of it in our lives, and at the heart of that, is being good examples of that application. I believe it that way with all of life. Look how Jesus taught almost everyone He met. We should all ascribe to be the best teachers we can be, whenever we feel we can be a blessing to those around us. If God has blessed us with it, then we should be intentional to pass it on.
Pray and look around. Who has the Lord put in your path for you to teach, or maybe mentor? They may not gather at your feet like they did for Jesus, but they may knock at your office door. Teach them, as His Word works through you, today.
Titus 2:7 (ESV) – Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,
Luke 6:38 (ESV) – Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV) – And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Mark 10:1 (ESV) – And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.
2Tim 2:1-2 (ESV) – You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
Listening to the Holy Spirit:
Powerful is the teacher to the student. Wisdom given to those who will listen is a great tool of the wise to come. You are My reflection, and in such, you too must teach. Like a valuable jewel, it is carefully passed down, that its value would not be lost in the generations. Seek to teach that which has been of value to you. Offer this not grudgingly, for you do not lose as you give, but gain. I have given you much, that your blessing would be greater. Give this again with a grateful heart, bestowing blessing on they who receive. Hold not back what has been given, for to those that hoard, they will soon lose what they once had, and forgotten will be the life of these. Bless generously those I bring to you. Teach with care for whom they will be. Grow them by the giving of what has been given, and greater will be granted to you.
