Worse yet....

What would make a man tear his clothing and pull hair from his head and beard? For Ezra, it was hearing the news that his people left behind in Israel--including some of the priests and Levites--had intermarried with the neighboring peoples, and even adopted their religious practices. But the topper to this bad news if found at the end of Ezra 9:2:

Worse yet, the leaders and officials have led the way in this outrage.

Worse yet! It was bad enough that the people had done this bad deed. It was bad that some of the priests and Levites were guilty. But it was "worse yet" that the leaders had led the people down the wrong path.


Leadership is a weighty responsibility.  


James warned his readers that not many should presume to teach, because those who did would be judged more strictly (James 3:1).  


Paul warned the church at Rome that those who taught the Word should live by it:

...you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?  You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? (Romans 2:21-22)

He told Timothy that the overseer "must be above reproach" (1 Timothy 3:1).


Jesus put it this way in Luke 17:1-3

Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.  It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. So watch yourselves.

Those in leadership will be held to a higher standard. Why? Because they hold influence over God's people. We must guard this great responsibility with great care. We must guard ourselves, our doctrine and our practices.


How? By cherishing and protecting our relationship with Jesus Christ. By allowing His Holy Spirit to reign in our hearts, convicting us of our sins and leading us to live in such a way that we do not lead others to stumble. What an awesome responsibility!