Are You Teachable?
This morning God laid a question on my heart as I was reading His Word. The question was "Are you teachable?" Hmmm.....let's sit with that for a moment.
Am I teachable?
How would you answer this question? If you are unsure, a great way to get our answer is through prayer, another way is by reading the Bible, especially the book of Proverbs. In HCSB it states that if we want to know God and live in a manner pleasing to Him we will discover in the book of Proverbs a wealth of practical guidelines for everyday decision-making as well as for lifelong, life-changing patterns of character development and purpose. The book reveals truths about God and our relationship with Him.
Proverbs 1:1-6 NIV
"The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for aquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair, for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young - let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance - for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise."
When I read the HCSB side note for 1:2 it says, "In character formation, gaining wisdom is no easy task, for it cannot be separated from discipline. To learn to obey God's Word takes time and requires commitment to the disciplines necessary for developing a moral nature pleasing to God. The process of attaining wisdom also requires submission to God's authority and correction, for you will not 'get it right' every time."
So what is biblical discipline? It is a virtue that allows a person to exercise self-control. It involves both reactive correction and proactive instruction, so let's take a look at what God says about discipline, submission and attaining wisdom.
Proverbs 3:7-8 NIV
"Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones."
2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."
James 4:7 NIV
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Proverbs 15:32 NIV
"He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding."
James 3:13 NIV
"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom."
Proverbs 23:12 NIV
"Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge."
I have a mentor who speaks truth to me and at times that truth hurts, but I take what she says to the Lord in prayer and humbly ask Him to convict and reveal to me what is true and ask for His guidance with it. Can I say I have a deeper appreciation for my mentor because I know her motivation is to see me grow spiritually so I welcome her honesty. But I will say it is extremely humbling when we have to admit our shortcomings, but we'll never become teachable unless we are honest with ourselves. Just like Proverbs says above, it requires commitment and submission to God's authority in order to attain wisdom.
So ask yourself, are you willing to give people permission to speak truth to you? Are you open to hearing these hard truths or do you find yourself becoming defensive when someone shares with you? Take your answer to the Lord in prayer and see what He reveals to you.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
It takes intentionality on our part to be committed to reading and listening to God's Word daily and to have a willing heart that allows Him to correct us. Where do you feel convicted in your life? Let's take those convictions to heart and ask God to strengthen us so that we can stand up against those temptations and align our ways with God.
Proverbs 26:12
"Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him."
What are some steps we can take to ensure we are teachable?
Practice humility
Admit your limitations and ask for help and guidance
Have a willing heart to hear what is said and self-reflect with the Holy Spirit
Go to the Lord daily and ask for Him to reveal areas that do not align with His will
Thank God for His discipline in your life
Proverbs 9:9 NIV
"Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning."
Proverbs 12:1 NIV
"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid."
Psalm 25:9-10 NIV
"He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant."
Here is a fun fact for the day: Billy Graham used to read a chapter of Proverbs a day!
Friends, I encourage you to read through the book of Proverbs and hope you will share how God is using His Word to speak to your heart this week.
Written by: Jill Theriault
Crossroads Coaching - @crossroadscoachingongodstime
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