James 3:1 delivers a sobering warning: those who teach will be judged with greater strictness. Words carry immense power, and those who preach or teach God's truth bear a heavy responsibility. This verse reminds us that teaching is not a position of pride but a calling of careful stewardship, where every word spoken will be weighed before the Judge of all. Few should rush into this role without considering the accountability it demands.

Rahab's inclusion in Hebrews 11, alongside the greats of faith, shows that God's kingdom is for anyone who believes and acts on that belief—regardless of their past. Rahab reminds us that faith is not about where you come from or what you've done, but about whom you trust.

Brethren, this isn't about whether works save us—that's not the point here. James is not contradicting Paul. The issue is this: true faith, the kind that actually saves, is never alone. It's completed by works. That's what James is saying. Look at Abraham—he believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. But it was when he acted, when he offered Isaac, that his faith was shown to be real. Faith without works? It's dead. It's like a body without the spirit—there's nothing there. The question James is asking is this: can a faith that has no works really save you? The answer is no, because real faith is always proven by what it does.

In 1 Samuel, we see how David's sin provided a great occasion for God's enemies to speak evil of His name. Similarly, in Titus 2 and 1 Timothy 6, we learn that failing to submit to authority can also bring reproach upon God's name.