Faith and Teachableness

Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser, teach the righteous, and they will learn even more. Proverbs 9:9 NLT.

I wonder how you and I would rank on a “teachableness” scale? Would you consider yourself very teachable? Somewhat teachable? Or lousy at it? Jesus taught with parables. Some understood them, some didn’t have a clue what he was talking about, even His own disciples! They are excellent role models for us. Because they didn’t just go on with their day, nodding, “oh yes, wise sayings”. In Luke 8, Jesus told the parable of the farmer scattering seed. They did not understand, so “his disciples asked him what his parable meant”. Luke 8:9. My friends, we need to ask about things we don’t understand. 

But we must first acknowledge what we don’t know. There are some things in my life I don’t know how to do. Sometimes, I just don’t want to bother with them. Last week, after our Life Group was over, someone noticed a leg on my chair was loose. She picked it up, did something, and tightened it. I didn’t want to admit; I didn’t know how to do it. Usually, I wait till my son comes over, discovers the wobble and fixes it. I never watched him do it or ask how to do it. I just lived with it. However, this week I told myself, it can’t be that hard. I found an Allen wrench, experimented and finally got it to work! Are there areas in your knowledge about God that you have never asked Him to teach you about?

God gave us the Holy Spirit to be our teacher. He wants to instruct us and teach us in God’s ways. Come unto me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light. Matthew 11:28-30.  I wonder if the reason so many of us grow weary is that we don’t know Him well enough. We are walking in our own strength and wisdom, and doing things harder than need be. We focus on the problem more than on God and His ability to solve it. He wants to teach us better ways to do things, if we only ask.

If we want to be teachable, we must quiet our own thoughts and ideas. Then we must put on our listening ears. Many of us find this hard to do amid our noisy world. I’m trying to remember to pray before I open my Bible every day. “Father, teach me. Help me understand what I am reading”. I don’t want to read simply for information, I want to read for application. Sometimes this is hard, because it means I have to change. Being teachable means you will change your approach, your thoughts, your attitudes, or your actions. But we don’t have to make these changes by sheer willpower. We have the Holy Spirit’s help!

Praying with King David, in Psalm 25: make me t know your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Psalm 25: 4-5. ESV. The more we seek Him and His ways, the more comfortable we are with His paths. A person with a teachable spirit is correctable. They do not need to be defensive. They are soft and tenderhearted toward the things of the Lord. They will admit they are wrong. 

Years ago I was talking with a friend about the scripture about putting new wine in old wineskins. I was sharing my “wisdom” as a young pastor. My friend offered a very insightful comment, and, to be honest, I was embarrassed by my lack of insight. I was dishonest, and said, “Oh, yes I knew that’. Unfortunately, that lie lost me the insight and wisdom she shared. I had to repent and admit my pride stood in the way of my learning something. I ranked very low on the teachable scale that day. Don’t let that happen to you. Let’s be learners, no matter who the teacher might be.

Father, please forgive our pride. Help us humble ourselves and seek to learn from you. Thank you for your willingness to teach us, even if we resist it. Your ways are higher than our ways, once we learn that it is so much easier to do things your ways. In Jesus’ Name, amen/