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04-28-08 “Am I Teachable?”
“Soften your attitude, learn humility, and remain teachable today.”
This quote was taken from John Maxwell’s new book, Go for Gold: Inspiration to Increase Your Leadership Impact. It is my belief that “teachability” is an attitude. It is a mindset that says, “No matter how much I know, I can always learn more.”
My church family has heard me say repeatedly, “My day is a loss if I don’t learn something new.” If I am going to learn I’ve got to be teachable; and if I’m going to be teachable, in order to learn, I’ve got to keep a humble spirit. There is no room for an “I’ve already arrived attitude.”
The Old Testament book of Job (one of the oldest in the canon of Scripture) says:
- Chapter 12:7 “But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
- Chapter 12:8 “or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee…”
Job continues in his answer to one of his old friends (Zophar) -
- Chapter 12:9 “Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?”
It is obvious that Job is making a point from nature and is stressing the importance of learning from nature. If we can learn from nature (and we do) can we not also learn from the God of Creation? (vs 9) The Lord hath wrought this!
It was the great coach John Wooden that said, “Everything we know we learned from someone else.” He was right in his declaration. It is obvious that “teachability” is an important “ability!” Maybe we should be asking ourselves some questions to discover “how teachable” we really are.
Consider these:
- Do I listen more than I talk?
- Do I readily admit when I am wrong?
- Am I willing to say “I don’t know” and seek counsel?
- Do I act defensive when criticized, or do I listen openly?
- Do I ask questions?
These are rather thought provoking and will serve to get you on the road to asking yourself some questions about your own teachability.
Another mark of spiritual growth and maturity is humility. Humility, then, must factor into teachability. Sydney Harris sums up the elements of a teachable mind-set: “A winner knows how much he still has to learn, even when he is considered an expert by others. A loser wants to be considered an expert by others before he has learned enough to know how little he knows.” (Maxwell’s book, p. 107)
It is my belief that only emotionally secure individuals can maintain a teachable mindset. One writer said it this way, “People who are not emotionally secure see almost everything as a challenge or a threat.” So one’s own insecurity creates a barrier for one to learn and be teachable.
The Apostle Peter admonishes the believers to “grow in grace and in knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.” The conclusion is that “we must remain teachable.” I agree with the preacher who said, “I’ve never met a person that I can’t learn from.”
- Let’s take “teachability” into the work place!
- Let’s take it into life!
- Let’s take it into the study of Scriptures!
A prayer of David might serve us well, “Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law!”
Determined to learn something today! Pastor Ed Sears
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