Jas 3:1  "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." 


If you want to be out in front, a teaching elder, seen as someone who is in touch with the Word of God; then realize there is a stricter judgment. Your actions and love for other peoples needs to reflect the Love of Christ. He is Absolute Love. You know you can't teach the law of love and your actions and speech be demeaning or degrading of others. Your relationship with Christ must not only be an in front of people facade. If you want to be teacher of the Word, your passion outside of a teaching situation will be more evidence of your wisdom than your public demeanor. 
Here is the problem your tongue eventually betrays your true inner self. Your part in the Body of Christ is under scrutiny of the entire body. Everyone will see and know the ways in which you stumble. What you say then, has a lot of power and affect toward the rest of the Body. So what you say when you think your in secret can then set the Body ablaze with discord and strife. Leading many astray and you will be guilty of setting the Body on the wrong course. God will certainly hold you responsible for your sins against the Body of Christ. 


Jas 3:2-6  "For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.  Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell." 


So, if you are not genuinely, passionately in love with Jesus and not fully prepared by the Love of Christ to teach others from a pure loving heart you will be exposed. You can't hold in forever what is in your heart and if you bless in public, but curse when you think you won't be found out, you fool yourself. This is something that shouldn't be allowed in the Body. 


Jas 3:7-10  "For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so." 


You who are wise should realize this is a person who shouldn't represent the Word of the Lord. If someone shows wisdom by conducting himself  in a humble, respectful manner before the Lord, seek that person out to teach the Body. 
This is exactly the opposite of earthly unspiritual wisdom, the wisdom of rebellious angels. They want to be at the front, they are ambitious to be heralded and glorified, to be set up as receiving honor. If you are jealous of a spot in front of others and your hearts are full of ambitious selfishness, don't stand forth and boast, don't seek to be a teacher within the Body. 

Jas 3:11-15  "Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?  Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water." Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.  This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic." 


For if this type of teacher is among you, the Body will be disorderly and dishonor Christ by their actions. If you want to know what the loving heart of a teacher look at Christ. The teaching will come purely from the love of Christ in their heart. It will be full of peace, gentleness, mercy, goodness, impartiality, and sincerity of heart. It will flow from the fullness of Christ in the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Body of Christ under this teacher will become more and more Christ-like in love and justice, filled with the righteousness of Christ flowing through the peace of the members who make peace on behalf of Christ with others around them.  
Spiritual, Christlike wisdom seeks out the humble, meek and unassuming as representatives of the message of Christ's love.

Jas 3:16-18  "For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."