Psalm 62

Verse nine to the end of the psalm has particular interest for anyone that is leading other people (including children). Verse nine says that men of low degree or vanity and men of high degree are a lie. Simply put, no matter how much we believe that we have accomplished, everything we do is empty without God. Vanity means to be empty. To appear to have substance but to not really have anything inside. Like a balloon: potentially very big, but filled with nothing but air.

Verse ten goes on to say, trust not in oppression, don’t rob, and if one becomes wealthy don’t trust in that wealth. I think that leaders of men and children can use these saying to direct how they lead. Don’t try to manage your classroom by fear (oppression), by screaming at children or trying to appear mean and scary to get students to do what they should be doing. Also, don’t threaten them (robbery) to them to do what you want them to. I have seen teachers threaten classes numerous times: do this or else. And while consequences are sometimes necessary to teach students lessons, using it as a primary source to get your students to do what you want them to means that you really don’t know how to work with children. Finally, if you become wealthy, don’t trust in that wealth. For us as teachers, if we become good teachers don’t settle on the successes that we have had in the past. There is an old saying: “when your ripe you rot.” When we begin to stop increasing ourselves (learning, methods, strategies) then we will begin to lose ground with our students.

Finally, remember what verse eleven says, “power belongeth unto God.” No matter what we may accomplish it is only by the power of God. He can give and he can take away. If we misuse the position that God has given to us (teaching children) then God may take that gift away if we don’t use it properly.