Bible teachers might believe the lie that what they sow into their personal lives does not affect their role as a teacher. They might believe that their motivation and preparation for teaching isn’t all that important. Be sure to read the previous post, Lies Bible Teachers Might Believe, to reflect on how these things do matter and how they will reap the consequences.
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Gal. 6:7-9)
The Be-Attitudes for Teachers Devotional looks at 30 different traits that, when sown into a teacher’s life, will make a difference.
Let’s look at some of these qualities in light of the principle of sowing and reaping.
Be Adaptable
- Sow adaptability into your teaching and you will reap a greater potential for meeting the needs of your students.
- Sow inflexibility into your teaching and you will probably fail to connect with your students.
Be Concerned
- Sow regard for your students’ overall welfare and you will reap open hearts in your students that are more receptive to learning.
- Sow an insensitivity toward your students’ lives and you will reap hearts in your students that may be closed to what you have to teach them.
Be Enthusiastic
- Sow zeal for the Lord and His Word into your teaching and you will reap the attention of your students.
- Sow a half-hearted reaction and you will reap responses in students that also lack passion for the Lord and His Word.
Be Filled with the Spirit
- Sow to the Spirit and you will reap a life fit to be an example for others.
- Sow to the flesh (old nature) and you will reap a life that undermines the words you speak.
Be Honest
- Sow authenticity into your teaching and you will reap a greater level of credibility with your students even though you sometimes fail.
- Sow hypocrisy and you will reap skepticism in your students toward the validity of what you teach.
Be Reliable
- Sow attention to details and preparedness and you will reap the benefits of students who feel they are valued and loved.
- Sow less than your best and you may reap less than what God desires to do in and through you.
(Learn more about these characteristics, and other traits, in the Be-Attitudes for Teachers Devotional.)
What we sow into our teaching will reap consequences not just for the here and now but also for eternity. The question is whether what we are sowing is life-giving or destructive.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Gal. 6:9)