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Presented by Lisa Bishop
Are you teachable?
We will examine the 5 attitudes for everyday life, and today, let’s look at our teachability.
When it comes to having a posture of learning, Proverbs 1:5-7 reminds us of this,
Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:5-7).
These words teach us as followers of Jesus, God’s Word is filled with wisdom and instruction and should always be our go-to and guide. In a broader sense, they also remind us to have a posture of teachability and be open to correction.
Sometimes we can become so self-absorbed that our pride, ego, or arrogance can prevent us from inviting instruction, learning from others, seeking out different perspectives, and being open to hearing differing opinions. We can find ourselves so convinced we are right that we are closed off from considering anything out of the scope of what we already know, or think we know.
I think it’s interesting that Proverbs is intentional to point out the pursuit of increasing our learning.
These words remind us even the wisest of the wise should be open to listening and adding to their knowledge. We never know it all and we should continue to be intentional about seeking opportunities to learn, understand, and expand our insight.
If you think about it, these wise words can apply to the workplace, home life, and relationships with friends. When we have an “I already know that” attitude, it does not leave much room for growth and can stunt our relationships.
When we are teachable and adopt a learner’s mindset, when we are willing, with wisdom, to invite correction and consider other points of view, we display the godly character of humility.
In what circumstances and in which relationships can you take on a posture of listening, openness, and learning this week? When you do, perhaps you will learn something new.