- Jun 29, 2019
- 651
- 169
- 60
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Married
‘Those who can, do, those who can’t, teach.’
Those who utter it are usually cynical, as in, ‘Teaching is for those who are unsuccessful in doing.’ Of course, in a secular world, success depends on luck. For those who love God, success comes in accordance with God’s Purpose.
But relative to God’s Purpose is what we are blessed with. Psalms 139:14 says, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” Much of God’s Works are contingent on our manifesting them in what we do. Those works are usually described in the form of talent. Thus, we have been born with certain talents, some of which are obvious and some that need to be discovered by the things we do.
A person may be born to, say, be a carpenter. That person may either pursue that talent from the very beginning, or, after trying out other pursuits discovers they’re best suited for carpentry. So, it is through carpentry that they make their living. Bur another person may not be cut out for anything, except to teach. Sometimes we hear of college professors who try their hand as a dishwasher in a restaurant but can’t quite cut it.
I tell you, teaching is not secondary to doing. It is a talent in and of itself. But in a secular world are those who may choose to teach instead of getting their hands dirty, both literally and figuratively, engaging in some kind of physical/mental pursuit that is a manifest of the talent God has given them. They take the easy way out, not plunging into the type of work that others do, that they themselves are capable of doing. They stand back, and say, ‘Do it this way,’ or ‘Higher’ or ‘Faster,’ not ever actually undertaking the work themselves. That could lead a worker to say ‘Those who can, do, those who can’t, teach.’
Teaching the Word of God is a noble task. Would such a person be judged as being good if they don’t practice what they preach? God only knows. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 delineates what we should be involved in, to the extent of our God-given abilities, it says, “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak...”
Admonishing and encouraging amounts to teaching, but some cynics may regard it as ‘jawboning’ particularly if those who do the admonishing and encouraging have never undertaken, nor do they intend to undertake, or not undertake, that which they encourage and admonish others to do. To a certain extent, those cynics may be right when they criticize the jaw-boners who say, ‘Come on! What’s the matter with you? An idiot can do that better.’ And if the worker can get away with it, he’d probably say ‘Well, then do it...idiot!’
But there are people who have genuine limitations, many because of circumstances. They may suddenly find themselves out of a job, or the person they depended on to do that which they can’t do, is no longer around. They may be old and may not have the strength to do that which they used to do. God said there will always be people who are poor and needy. So Romans 15:1-3 says, “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” That is written in Psalm 69:9. And Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
In Luke 11:42-43, Jesus is critical of the Pharisees. He says, “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.” Apparently, the Pharisees had others do that they themselves have not done but could, and the Pharisees, without any justification through works, have appointed themselves an elite, entitled to privileges that others don’t have. They were self-appointed Adonis’s among ordinary people who listen to them.
This type of behavior has brought whole civilizations down as a result of the resentment that built up. It contributed to the downfall of the Roman empire. In relatively more modern times, it has contributed to revolutions and an overturning of those in power by replacing them with those who are in the extremist fringes.
It is a small comfort that in the end, as Daniel 2:21 tells us, such people in power are replaced, but what do those who suffer because of them do in the meantime? Well, Galatians 6:2 shows us the way. And Romans 15:1-3 applies also, to the extent that the demagogues have played to people’s weaknesses in deciding who is to lead them.
Countries in which the demagogues have been replaced, are benefitting from Daniel 2:21, inasmuch as whatever means they employ to replace such demagogues is with the Spirit of God. But we are not judged on our ability to wait for God to do that which we can do ourselves and for others less fortunate.
Those who utter it are usually cynical, as in, ‘Teaching is for those who are unsuccessful in doing.’ Of course, in a secular world, success depends on luck. For those who love God, success comes in accordance with God’s Purpose.
But relative to God’s Purpose is what we are blessed with. Psalms 139:14 says, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” Much of God’s Works are contingent on our manifesting them in what we do. Those works are usually described in the form of talent. Thus, we have been born with certain talents, some of which are obvious and some that need to be discovered by the things we do.
A person may be born to, say, be a carpenter. That person may either pursue that talent from the very beginning, or, after trying out other pursuits discovers they’re best suited for carpentry. So, it is through carpentry that they make their living. Bur another person may not be cut out for anything, except to teach. Sometimes we hear of college professors who try their hand as a dishwasher in a restaurant but can’t quite cut it.
I tell you, teaching is not secondary to doing. It is a talent in and of itself. But in a secular world are those who may choose to teach instead of getting their hands dirty, both literally and figuratively, engaging in some kind of physical/mental pursuit that is a manifest of the talent God has given them. They take the easy way out, not plunging into the type of work that others do, that they themselves are capable of doing. They stand back, and say, ‘Do it this way,’ or ‘Higher’ or ‘Faster,’ not ever actually undertaking the work themselves. That could lead a worker to say ‘Those who can, do, those who can’t, teach.’
Teaching the Word of God is a noble task. Would such a person be judged as being good if they don’t practice what they preach? God only knows. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 delineates what we should be involved in, to the extent of our God-given abilities, it says, “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak...”
Admonishing and encouraging amounts to teaching, but some cynics may regard it as ‘jawboning’ particularly if those who do the admonishing and encouraging have never undertaken, nor do they intend to undertake, or not undertake, that which they encourage and admonish others to do. To a certain extent, those cynics may be right when they criticize the jaw-boners who say, ‘Come on! What’s the matter with you? An idiot can do that better.’ And if the worker can get away with it, he’d probably say ‘Well, then do it...idiot!’
But there are people who have genuine limitations, many because of circumstances. They may suddenly find themselves out of a job, or the person they depended on to do that which they can’t do, is no longer around. They may be old and may not have the strength to do that which they used to do. God said there will always be people who are poor and needy. So Romans 15:1-3 says, “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” That is written in Psalm 69:9. And Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
In Luke 11:42-43, Jesus is critical of the Pharisees. He says, “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.” Apparently, the Pharisees had others do that they themselves have not done but could, and the Pharisees, without any justification through works, have appointed themselves an elite, entitled to privileges that others don’t have. They were self-appointed Adonis’s among ordinary people who listen to them.
This type of behavior has brought whole civilizations down as a result of the resentment that built up. It contributed to the downfall of the Roman empire. In relatively more modern times, it has contributed to revolutions and an overturning of those in power by replacing them with those who are in the extremist fringes.
It is a small comfort that in the end, as Daniel 2:21 tells us, such people in power are replaced, but what do those who suffer because of them do in the meantime? Well, Galatians 6:2 shows us the way. And Romans 15:1-3 applies also, to the extent that the demagogues have played to people’s weaknesses in deciding who is to lead them.
Countries in which the demagogues have been replaced, are benefitting from Daniel 2:21, inasmuch as whatever means they employ to replace such demagogues is with the Spirit of God. But we are not judged on our ability to wait for God to do that which we can do ourselves and for others less fortunate.
