Do I have a Teachable Spirit

Do I have a Teachable Spirit?

5/26/2020

This is a breakout post from our 27-day devotional, Come and Gather: Family Time With God, or what we lovingly refer to as Gather. You'll find this post featured in Part Two: Days 6-10 A Walk Through God’s Word.

Our text today is from Proverbs 12:15.

"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” Proverbs 12:15

It has been said of some, they’re not always right, but they are never in doubt. The Bible would call that type of person a fool.

Thirty-six times in Proverbs the fool is mentioned as one who:

Will not heed warnings
Will not receive instruction
Makes light of sin

To have a teachable spirit is a wealth beyond measure. God has granted varying degrees of intelligence and ability to different people, but when a person learns early in life to have a teachable spirit that person is much more likely to be successful.

A very wise counselor once told me, every person you meet can teach you something. I have found this not only to be true, but a valuable reminder. It is often difficult to take instruction from someone who may not present it in the most tactful way or from someone who may not be as old or experienced, but the statement still stands, every person you meet can teach you something.

Just the other day, my seven-year-old son shared a fact with me he learned at school about the difference between an octopus and a squid that I did not know. I don’t know how I will ever use that information, but that is not important. The value of that experience was it reminded me that I can learn something from every person, even my own child.

God gives us many people we can learn from. Children are given parents and yes, parents are given children. Students have teachers and teachers have students. Employees have employers and employers have employees. The avenue of instruction and learning is a two-way street.

The root of the unteachable spirit is, in a word, PRIDE. God save us from an attitude of pride that will rob us of a chance to learn and grow.

“Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.” Proverbs 18:12

Come and Gather: Family Time with God

Introducing Come and Gather: Family Time with God, or what we lovingly refer to as Gather.

Gather is a lovely, 35-page, daily devotional centered around families enjoying time together with God and each other.

This 27-day devotional is divided into 3 parts:

Part One: Days 1-5, is written specifically with husbands and wives in mind. In this part of Gather, husbands and wives will explore 5 Signs of a Functional Family.

5 Signs of a Functional Family includes:

Part Two: Days 6-20, is written with the whole family in mind. It's A Walk Through God’s Word. From Genesis to Revelation we will discuss subjects like God's mercy and protection, being humble, dealing with difficulties, having a teachable spirit, dependence on God, and much more.

Part Three: Days 21-27, is a Men of God Character Study. We'll learn character traits that every Christian should strive to demonstrate in their life straight from characters in God's Word.

At the end of Gather, you'll find a place for your family to record specific prayer requests. I love being specific with my prayer request and seeing God answer in specific ways. Recording the answers, as well as the requests, is a great way to help your children see God working in your lives.

Join the movement today and download Gather for free today!

Thanks for joining the InstaEncouragements weekly Christian link-up! We would really appreciate it if you would grab this IE link-up button, place it on your blog, and link back to this post. Thanks! Have an awesome week!

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While it is true that every person you meet can teach you something, so can every situation you face. What has your teachable spirit learned recently from a situation you've faced?

Come and Gather: Family Time With God published with permission
Pastor Jeremy Sweatt, Farmington Avenue Baptist Church, West Hartford, Connecticut

20 Comments

Barbara Harper link

5/26/2020 09:13:41 am

My husband and I were just talking about this recently. Sometimes even in everyday conversations, it's hard to talk with some people because they just cannot see anyone's viewpoint but their own. I'm praying God will show me my own blind spots and help me be humble enough to acknowledge them and seek His grace to change.

Patsy Burnette link

5/26/2020 09:30:54 am

That's a prayer I need to pray as well, Barbara!

April link

5/26/2020 10:10:29 am

I think it's always a good reminder to keep a check on, being willing to have a teachable spirit. We can many times get stuck in being one-sided, when it comes to certain topics. Now, of course we should always be stuck when it comes to doctrinal view points, where the gospel is concerned. But in other areas of life, we need to be willing to listen to various view points, being balanced is something I feel is so important.

5/26/2020 03:41:12 pm

Balanced is good, April. Being willing to be teachable is also important. And I totally agree that when it comes to doctrine, we don't budge.

Lisa notes link

5/26/2020 11:10:13 am

It's more pleasurable to talk to people who have teachable spirits too. One of my daughters went through a phase where she did not have a teachable spirit (years ago) and it was such a chore to try to teach her. I have to remember that about myself and God, too; he wants me to have a teachable spirit. Humility is one of the most important traits we can cultivate! Thanks for this!

5/26/2020 03:45:31 pm

I agree, Lisa. Humility is such an important trait to cultivate. It's so difficult when children go through that phase where they choose not to be teachable. Seems like most of ours have been there at one time or the other—mostly those pre-teen years. Fortunately, we are well beyond that now!

Michele Morin link

5/26/2020 07:27:08 pm

I'm working on this, particularly in listening to others before I rush to speak my own thoughts. I do have so much to learn.

5/27/2020 07:49:29 am

You and me both, Michele! :)

Susan Shipe link

5/27/2020 06:37:56 am

I believe a teachable spirit is the greatest requirement to "get anywhere."

5/28/2020 07:06:57 pm

It will take you far, Susan!

Jerralea link

5/27/2020 12:31:44 pm

One of things we say a lot at my house, "Well, I learned something new today!" I want to be ever learning, and I definitely want to have a teachable spirit.

5/28/2020 07:11:53 pm

That just made me think, Jerralea... "What new thing did you learn today?" may be my new favorite dinner question!!!

Angela Johnson link

5/27/2020 12:41:48 pm

I had never really thought about this before. You definitely opened my eyes to a few things and gave me an interest in learning more. I love the statement that everyone has something to teach you. I will have to remember that.

5/28/2020 07:18:24 pm

"Everyone has something to teach you." I like that too, Angela. I've been training people in different fields for the past 15 years and it never ceases to amaze me when someone I am training puts a new spin on something and actually teaches me a better way to do something—it happens quite often with these new, sharp young people I get to work with. Wowzers! Now I'm feeling so old! LOL

Lauren Renee Sparks link

5/27/2020 03:24:01 pm

I think this is a question we need to repeatedly check in on ourselves with.

5/28/2020 07:19:07 pm

For sure, Lauren!

Karen Del Tatto link

5/28/2020 08:07:40 pm

Excellent post! I never thought about that before, but it is so true, every person we interact with can teach us something. In leading ladies Bible study, I have always told the women that I may be facilitating, but I learn just as much from them!

It can be very frustrating to work with someone who is unteachable whether it be a spouse, child or co-worker. In those cases, it seems that even the kindest of instruction or redirection is taken as an affront and indeed that is pride.

May we all have teachable spirits.

Thanks for sharing.

5/29/2020 10:18:06 am

Every person and every situation, Karen. I've learned more from teaching Sunday school than any of my class members, I'm sure!

Elena link

5/28/2020 09:33:47 pm

What a great reminder to be teachable and humble. You're right, pride keeps us from being teachable. It is pretty grounding to realize that there will always be someone who knows something I don't know. There will always be someone who can do something better than me. That is OK! I can always grow and improve as long as I have a teachable spirit, and often the lessons come from the most unlikely sources!

5/29/2020 10:26:39 am

There's always someone that knows more, Elena. But I've even learned valuable lessons from someone that seems to know less. You just never know what person or situation will present you with a learning opportunity.

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