Romans 12:1, 6-8
Why:
Teachers know all too well that we are often prompted to remember our “why.” While this question is meant to encourage, it often elicits a response from seasoned educators that is exactly opposite what is desired.
Truthfully, though, that question has never bothered me. And when asked to remember my “why,” I have defaulted to the same answer. My immediate response has always been, “I do this for the kids. Everything I do as a teacher has to be about the kids.” But that’s only partially true.
In recent years, I, like many others in education, have grown frustrated, weary, and jaded. And like others, I experienced a personal setback. For me, that setback led to years of living through fear and immeasurable anxiety, all stemming from an experience at my job that left me broken and hurting.I dreaded evaluations by administrators and spent many days expecting the worst because there was a time that I received the worst. My distorted perception of my own competence influenced everything I did in relation to my job. And when you’re in a state of self pity and woe, there is never a shortage of people who will gladly help you stay there.
In fact, social media is packed with videos and blog posts from educators who aim to do just that. They fill those of us in education with a sense that what we do is worthless and that it’s only about everything except what it’s really about. The videos may be funny, they may be at least partially true, they may even be relatable. But educators, we need to stop filling our minds with all of that nonsense. A steady diet of disgruntled teachers will do nothing but make us paranoid and miserable.
Our Focus:
The Apostle Paul writes these words to the Philippians:
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. – Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
If we focus on those who only share their frustration and bitterness from bad experiences, we will soon be convinced that we work in a profession no longer thought to be noble, in an environment where truth is often ignored, purity is practically nonexistent, anything lovely is mocked, we’ll find little to admire, we’ll believe that excellence left the classroom when students left for COVID, and the only thing we will find praiseworthy is a kid who goes to the bathroom and doesn’t hit a vape while he’s in there.
This only fuels our stress, intensifies our anxiety, magnifies our discouragement, perpetuates our animosity against our administrators, grows the division between us and our students’ parents, and even potentially plants seeds of resentment in our hearts toward our students.
We have to change our “why.”
If we want to be successful educators, we start by looking for the “things” that Paul tells us to look for in Philippians 4:8. And we change our “why,” which is to bring glory to God by worshiping Him through the faithful practice of the gift, the talent, He has given us: the gift to teach. We need to understand that worshiping the God we serve not only takes place when music is playing, when we’re at church, just on Sunday, or when we’re by ourselves in our “quiet time.” Worship is our faithful service to God every second of every minute of every hour of every single day.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” – Romans 12:1 (NIV)
Verse 6 continues:
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” – Romans 12:6-8
The Living Sacrifice:
It has taken me most of my life to learn the simplicity in serving Christ that Paul outlines in Romans 12. It’s not as complicated as we try to make it. I finally understand that, unlike school systems and administrators, and most of the world, God Almighty does not hold me accountable for how others respond to what I do for them. He holds me accountable for what I do with what He gives me.
If we make teaching about us, we will fail. If we make teaching only about our students, we will be frustrated. But, if we understand that teaching is an act of worship – that our worship to our God in our service to Him is our “why.” That pouring into young lives, being the salt, and shining His light brings glory to Almighty God – that’s a reason to get up every morning and, in spite of how difficult some days may be, teach with all we’ve got for His glory! (Colossians 3:17)
Prayer:
Lord, accept my teaching as an act of worship. Help me use my gift to glorify You, focusing on what is noble and pure. Give me strength to shine the light of Your Word in my classroom, that all around me will see you glorified. Amen.
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