Are We Teachable?

Give instruction to a wise man, and he

will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and

he will increase in learning.

Proverbs 9:9

My freshman History class sauntered into my classroom on the first day of school. I was not only to be their teacher but their class sponsor. However, at the moment, I was anxious to get off to a good start with the subject of American History. It was a great bunch of young people, each one as different as could be from the rest of the class. There was one young man, however, that caused me concern. He sat in his chair, slumped, stretched his legs straight but slanted to the floor before him, crossed his arms and drooped his head. This sight is never one that encourages the heart of a teacher. He was saying more to me by his physical pose than he could have said with a 500 word report. He was saying to me: “I don't like history, I don't like you and I don't intend to even give this class a try.” I'm happy to say that within about two weeks, the Lord and I had managed to change his mind. That history class opened up for him a whole new world.

There have been times when I have thought back to that young man. If a teacher has student trophies of accomplishment, that young man was mine. Just in those beginning weeks, I learned a lot from him. I was forced to look in an imaginary mirror at my own attitudes when I don't feel like being teachable. I've been blessed in the years I've taught ladies. Probably 90% have responded with looks of anticipation as a Bible study was presented, looks that can be very encouraging to any teacher.

During my times of resistance, I wonder how much I've lost out on, refusing to be teachable, especially regarding the things of God and His Word. Oh, I've never slumped in a chair, sending a message to a leader that her efforts with me would be in vain, but in my mind, I was certainly slumped with arms folded.

I find in Scripture that God is the main Person anxious to teach us spiritual truths:

Good and upright is the Lord: therefore

will He teach sinners in the way.

The meek will he guide in judgment:

and the meek will he teach His way.

Psalm 25:8,9

But the Comforter, which is the Holy

Ghost, whom the Father will send

in my name, He shall teach you all things,

and bring all things to your remembrance,

whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 14:26

One of the main responsibilities of the indwelling Holy Spirit is to interpret God's Word for us. One of the reasons we don't get all we should from Scripture is that we never invite the Holy Spirit to teach us what we should know from the Word. Not only will he interpret the Word but will also bring Scripture to our minds sometimes at the oddest of times and He does that because He knows we need it at the time.

Again our Father says:

Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One

of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth

thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way

that thou shouldest go.

Isaiah 48:17

Are we blessed, or are we blessed? We have His teaching and leadership any time we want it. How teachable and responsive are we to our Heavenly Father who desires to impart His wisdom to us on a regular basis. Am I responsive or resistant?

There are many sources of teaching available to us. For instance, there are those opportunities to teach and be taught by others in our spiritual community.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;

teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and

hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your

hearts to the Lord.

Colossians 3:12

There are places in Scripture where we are asked to be teachers regarding specific subjects as in Titus 2:3-5.

The aged women likewise, that they be in

behavior as becometh holiness, not false

accusers, not given to much wine, teachers

of good things;

 

(In this verse, you and I teach by example)

That they may teach the young women to be

sober, to love their husbands, to love

their children,

To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good,

obedient to their own husbands, that the

word of God be not blasphemed.

(It is in this area I believe we who are “more mature”

have failed to live up to our responsibility in teaching

younger women because it is our job to do.)

To teach, we must have been teachable enough that we can pass along what we have learned. God stands ready through His Holy Spirit to teach us from His Word. Not only can we be taught in our private study but through our pastors, Bible study leaders or teachers.

How do we become more teachable?

1. Confess our spiritual apathy to God as the sin it is.
2. Rid ourselves of distractions that can keep us from spiritual interest.
3. Admit to ourselves our lack of spiritual interest. This can be the hardest one.
4. Pray for a spiritually responsive spirit through the Holy Spirit's assistance.
5. Dig in. We must do our part in trashing our spiritually lazy attitudes.

Dear Father:

Show me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. (Psalm 25:4-5) Amen