Teacher or Friend?

Matthew 10:24-25

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

²⁴ “A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. ²⁵ It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called  Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2010:%2024-25&version=NIV1984)

As both a teacher and a principal I did not expect my students to be equal with me.  As well, as a mother I did not expect my daughters to be equal with me.  I did, however, aspire to have my children and my students take on some of the same attributes as I.  I wanted my girls to be God-fearing individuals, who knew the value of their Salvation through Jesus Christ. I did not expect them to latch on to my faith but through observation of me I wanted them to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that was their own, not mine.

As for my students, of course I wanted the same for them but my focus was on teaching them to be hard workers.  I wanted them to see my work ethic, hear my words of instructions and put them into practice in their own lives.  Many of my students did not come from a Christian upbringing in fact many came from homes that where the head may have well be called Beelzebub.  Often times the father was not a graduate of high school, may have been an alcoholic, and certainly did not raise their children with a work ethic or Christian values.  I could see a marked difference in my students who were raised by Godly parents and who had a good work ethic.  Although the children may have struggled in school they had a support system at home that allowed them to be successful at school.  For those who had less than that, it was a challenge to bring them to a level where they could see that they could be successful.  When they reached that level, watch out, they were on their way to a new life and the cycle was broken. 

How does all of that relate to this scripture?  I think Jesus was telling His disciples that as they encountered people they would find out that they were not always going to be the same and their needs would be much different. 

My second observation is that Jesus tells them they are not above their master.  As a teacher something that bothered more than anything was when my students thought they were equal to me.  When they tried to take over the class, tell me what kind of punishment someone deserved or were no longer willing to listen to my instructions because they already knew it all.  You may have encountered a child who was this way.  Once they reached a certain age they thought they knew it all and were no longer willing to listen to your words of wisdom.  Often times they find out that they should have listened but other times they just continue to make their own mistakes and blame it on others. 

I believe Jesus is instructing His apostles to not get caught up in that.  He wanted them to remember He was still above them even though He was giving them great power and that they needed to keep in check with Him and His wisdom at all times.  I believe He is telling us the same.  He is our friend, yes, but above all He is our Master.  We need to follow Him not try to pull Him along.

As you seek Him with all your heart may you see in Him the magnificent teacher that He is and may you always remember that you are His servant.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila