The Blind Leading the Blind
I slumped back in my chair and let out a lengthy sigh. For the past twenty minutes, I had been watching a tutorial video that promised to resolve my illustration dilemma for my latest book project. As someone who takes pride in creating visually appealing books, I was eager to learn this new technique.
However, my enthusiasm quickly morphed into frustration as I realized the presenter had no idea what she was talking about. Not only was she new to the software, but she openly admitted she hadn’t actually tried the feature she was attempting to teach!
“Let me just click around here and see what happens,” she said repeatedly, fumbling through menus and settings while I watched in growing dismay. It didn’t take long for me to realize I understood the software better than she did.
After twenty excruciating minutes of watching her blindly navigate the program, I finally surrendered and closed the video. Good grief! What a colossal waste of time.
Jason, who had been in the next room, poked his head through the doorway. “She didn’t sound like she had a clue what she was doing,” he remarked.
“She didn’t!” I exclaimed, throwing my hands up in frustration. “How can someone possibly think they can teach others what they don’t know themselves?”
As soon as those words left my mouth, a deeper truth settled over me. This wasn’t just about software tutorials; it was a profound spiritual principle staring me right in the face.
How many of us attempt to guide others spiritually when our own knowledge is limited? How many try to explain Scripture passages they’ve never studied? How many offer spiritual advice without having practiced it themselves?
Jesus addressed this very issue in Matthew 15:14 when He said, “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”
Sobering words, aren’t they?
Before we can effectively lead others to Christ, we must know Him intimately ourselves. Before we can teach God’s Word, we must study it diligently. Before we can exhort others to pray without ceasing, we must maintain an active prayer life.
The apostle Paul understood this principle. In 1 Corinthians 9:27, he wrote, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
Even Paul recognized the danger of teaching what he didn’t practice. He knew that spiritual leadership requires spiritual integrity.
This doesn’t mean we must be perfect before teaching others. If that were the case, no one would qualify! Rather, it means we must be genuine students ourselves, growing, learning, and walking with the Lord daily.
My frustrating tutorial experience served as a powerful reminder that those who impact others most profoundly aren’t necessarily the most polished or professional, but those who speak from authentic experience and genuine knowledge.
Are you trying to lead others without first following closely behind Christ yourself? Are you teaching principles you haven’t personally embraced? If so, perhaps it’s time to pause, refocus, and deepen your own relationship with the Lord before attempting to guide others.
After all, the most compelling spiritual guides aren’t those who merely talk about the path, but those who’ve walked it themselves.