A Teachable Spirit
Having a teachable spirit is a quality God supremely values in his people. Famous Scriptures include:
He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way. (Psalms 25:9)
Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. (Proverbs 9:9)
Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19)
As a church staff, we have been reading and discussing the award-winning book, A Teachable Spirit: The Virtue of Learning from Strangers, Enemies, and Absolutely Anyone by A. J. Swoboda. Our heart has been that we will become more teachable, ready to grow as Christians and thereby live more effectively for God.
Swoboda points out that being teachable is counter cultural. We are encouraged by our culture to impress people with our knowledge and portray ourselves as qualified. However, being teachable, he says, means being willing to reveal our vulnerabilities, limitations and insecurities, rather than hiding them.
At the heart of being a disciple is being a learner, having a willingness to be taught. Being teachable requires humility before God, recognising our need for repentance rather than trying like Adam and Eve to cover our shame and pretend. On the contrary, our goal is to follow Christ and learn from him, often by accepting unexpected instruction from those he allows to cross our paths.
Swoboda tells us that we should be ready to learn from experts, strangers, the dead, children, parents, secular culture and even our enemies. See, God’s truth is everywhere and waiting to be embraced if we have eyes to see and ears to hear. The author notes through the image of ‘raising hands’ that our learning is part of our worship. We raise our hands when we want to ask a question and we raise our hands in worship.
In an age where we can access views presented as ‘knowledge’ on almost any topic at a touch of a button, are we going out of our way to gain true knowledge, that which transforms us? Sometimes the opportunities come when least expect it. Are we correctible?
Swoboda conveys the importance of being humble, connected, willing to learn and then being ready to share God’s wisdom as the opportunity presents itself. Indeed, this posture helps us become salt and light to the world. How can we offer God’s truth and wisdom to the world if we have not been engaged in conversation, if we have not listened and learned first. This is true for any sphere of life that God places us in. So, the author explains,
“Jesus spent three years walking with his disciples. As he did, were they aware that they were being transformed? Jesus came to be with the disciples. One of the most important ideas I received from my [teacher] was his deep belief that the church is to play a similar ‘being with’ role in the world. Just as Jesus transformed the disciples by walking with them, so the church helps to transform the world by walking alongside it. When the church walks with the world, it has its most profound effect.”
Being teachable enables us to become deeply fruitful.
If you would like to read the book and gain further insight on becoming teachable, we have three copies in the office.
