Not Many of You Should Become Teachers: The Savior's Standard

3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. (James 3:1)Previously, I wrote about James and Jesus, and today I want to share some related thoughts about this famous passage from James. He writes that not many of you should become teachers. This is a general warning addressed to everyone, but especially to those who seek to elevate themselves to this important position in the church.What interests me is the weight this carries coming from James. James was a prominent figure in the faith, working alongside Paul, Peter, and John. He would have known the apostles’ teaching firsthand, and he was careful to make clarifications, distinctions, and nuances in his own writing concerning the relationship between faith and works.The Savior’s StandardRelated to this theme of faith and works, what fascinates me most is that James didn’t just write about lived-out faith—he witnessed it firsthand. He grew up with Jesus and saw Him even before His ministry. He knew how Jesus lived His life—holy and pure, blameless before God.For teachers today, the message is clear: the standard to both teach sound doctrine and live out the faith is high, in public and in private. The standard is Christ Himself. James knew this firsthand, and he wanted to make sure that we follow in step with the Savior.