Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes.
Psalm 119:12
TAKING IT IN
An old Chinese story is told about a student who approaches an older, respected, very wise teacher and he asks this teacher to teach him. The teacher invites the student to sit with him and have tea. While they are enjoying their tea, the teacher begins to converse with the eager young student. But every time the teacher started to explain a point, the student would interrupt him and say,
“Oh, I know that, I do this when that happens, or I don’t have that problem because. . . .”
Soon the teacher stopped talking and picked up the teapot. He began pouring tea into the student’s cup. As the cup filled, he continued pouring until the cup overflowed and spilled out. The student shouted,
“Stop! It is enough! My cup is full!”
With that, the old teacher smiled and replied,
“Yes, your cup is full, therefore I can teach you nothing until you empty your cup.”
The writer of Psalm 119 acknowledges and praises the wisdom of his Teacher, “Blessed are You, Oh LORD!”
He worships the One who holds the answers to every question. His desire is to be taught. And your desire may be the same, but the question becomes,
Are you teachable?
The student in our story wanted to be taught but instead of listening to his teacher, he wanted to show how much knowledge he already had. He was not open to learning anything new. His cup of knowledge was full. He was not teachable and before he could learn anything new from his teacher, he had to empty that cup.
Being teachable does not mean you give up all you have learned, and forget all that you know; it simply means to adopt a teachable attitude.
MAKING IT MEANINGFUL
The word “teachable” is defined as “capable of being taught”, with “a willingness to learn”.
One of the truest characteristics of a disciple is that of being a “disciplined learner” in other words one who is teachable.
There can be no “discipleship” without a willingness to learn, unlearn, and relearn, nor “mentorship” without submission, accountability and humility.
Jesus is our greatest example of a teachable spirit. We are told in Luke 2:40:
And the Child grew and became strong in spirit,
filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
As we follow in Jesus’ footsteps and continue to seek to become better students, we also become better teachers.
Practically, what is the evidence of a teachable spirit?
Consider the following:
- Ability and readiness to submit to another for instruction or counsel
- Hunger for truth and an appetite for the Word of God
- Regular attendance of Bible studies, seminars and conferences
- The volume of books and tapes you have and continue to read and listen to
- The changes you are making in your life based on the knowledge you have received
- Application of the principles and truths you have received, and an implementation of the new things you have learned
WORKING IT INTO MY HEART
Wanting the opportunity to establish relationships with the women here in Newport News, Virginia, I opened up my home to both host and lead a small group. God blessed me with a great group of women; many of them are new in their faith.
They are vibrant examples of a teachable spirit. Perhaps the best way to describe them is the picture of a sponge, absorbing and soaking up all that they can, asking great questions and so willing and open to be taught! They are hungry for the Word of God and the best “students” a teacher could ever hope for.
As we mature in our faith, it becomes easy to think we know it all and that we have nothing more to learn. We become set in our ways and close our minds to the thought of anything new. It works against the heart of “revival” that we long for!
Look at the example of Thomas Edison:
The Governor of North Carolina once complimented Thomas Edison on his creative genius.
‘I am not a great inventor,’ countered Edison.
‘But you have over 1,000 patents to your credit,’ the Governor stated.
‘Yes, but about the only invention I can claim is absolutely original, is the phonograph,’ Edison replied.
‘I’m afraid I don’t understand,’ the Governor remarked.
‘Well,’ explained Edison, ‘I’m an awfully good sponge. I absorb ideas wherever I can and put them to practical use. Then I improve them until they become of some value. My ideas are mostly the ideas of other people who didn’t develop them themselves.’
Edison was a lifelong learner. He stayed open, hungry for knowledge, and teachable, and how much more important does this attitude of learning become as we seek to grow spiritually?
Being “teachable” expresses itself in many ways. To know whether you’re teachable, ask yourself the following questions and be honest when you answer.
· Am I open to other people’s thoughts and ideas?
· Do I listen more than I talk?
· Am I willing to change my opinion based on new information?
· Do I readily admit when I am wrong?
· Do I think and observe before acting on a situation?
· Do I ask questions?
· Am I willing to ask a question that will expose my ignorance?
· Am I open to doing things in a way I haven’t done them before?
· Am I willing to ask for directions?
· Do I act defensively when criticized, or do I listen openly for the truth?
Take some time this week to uncover ten truths on being teachable:
- Deuteronomy 17:18-20
- Psalm 25:12
- Proverbs 2:3-6
- Proverbs 11:2
- Isaiah 51:1
- Jeremiah 29:13-14
- Matthew 13:16-17
- Acts 17:11
- James 1:21
- James 3:13
Then honestly evaluate your TEACHABILITY. Perhaps you need to “unlearn” some thoughts you’ve mistaken as truth, or you need to “listen” more instead of talking, or really “allow” Jesus to teach you through your trials.
Being teachable is key to our desires to be REVIVED and to grow spiritually.
Anonymous
Thank you Margy! Taking time this week to meditate on these scriptures and take inventory. So blessed by your teachings.
Love you,
Claire