Teacher's of the Word of God

I understand that i have a huge responsibility to teach the word of God clearly and correctly. But this understanding didn't really come to me that strongly until i was reading a book on preaching, and i read this quote.


Matthew Simpson in his Lectures on Preaching puts the preacher in his place;

"His throne is the pulpit; he stands in Christ's stead; his message is the word of God; around him are immortal souls; the Saviour, unseen, is beside him; the Holy Spirit broods over the congregation; angels gaze upon the scene, and heaven and hell awaits the issue. What associations, and what vast responsibility"


I... Ben Delaney... am meant to stand in Christ's position, and teach from the word of God? Heaven and hell hang in the balance. Immortal souls seated in front of me, and i...... i have the audacity to think about how 'interesting i am' or 'how good i am'... the right frame of mind is at the foot of the cross, the right understanding of who i am... and who God is. I shudder to think that God would even consider to use a wretch like me. God help me to be a good steward.


It says in James 3:1 "my breathren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall recieve a stricter judgement"


Let me say, we should aspire to become leaders, we should aspire to become greater influencers for God, however, the higher God raises us, the more we need to humble ourselves, and understand that we shall not glorify ourselves, but God alone.