The Teachable Christian
Hello Church,
When I was a new Christian I remember a pastor talking about FAT Christians. He emphasized that all Christians must be FAT -- that is, Faithful, Available, and Teachable. I would have to agree with what that pastor shared, but for this devotion, I want to write about the last characteristic. What does it mean for a Christian to be teachable? This is a very important characteristic for all of us to possess.
A teachable person recognizes they are saved by grace, and not by works or any merit of their own. This is where it all begins. Christians understand that they are completely undeserving of any benefit from God. We were rebels deserving only of God’s wrath and judgment and yet, with no contribution from ourselves, God saved us in Christ. How can a person who had nothing yet gained everything not be a teachable person? If you are saved by grace, then you should have a teachable demeanor.
A teachable person knows they need more of Jesus in their lives. A Christian is one who follows after Jesus (discipleship) and is on the path of becoming more like Him (sanctification); thus, they need more of his presence and influence in their lives. We love our Saviour; we want to imitate him. We want Jesus to purge the sin from every hidden crevice of our lives. What we want the most is to have more of Jesus, the lover of their souls.
A teachable person is a humble person. Humility comes from being saved by grace. We do not boast in ourselves, in our wealth, education, knowledge, possessions, appearance, or anything else. We boast only in Christ. We understand that every one of those things in which we used to boast, are actually gifts from our gracious God. Like Jesus, we are meek. That doesn’t mean we are pushovers. No, we have strong unshakable convictions and a resolve like iron, but the attitude that undergirds everything we do is humility.
A teachable person is a good listener. We listen not only because we value and care for the other person, but we are open to learning from that person. An unteachable person, more times than not, is concerned with what they want to say, rather than what the other person is saying. This can cause havoc in marriage and other relationships. It is a tell-tale sign of pride in our hearts. Do you want to be teachable? Then, work on becoming a better listener.
A teachable person assumes the posture of a spiritual learner. Knowledge of God is inexhaustible. Knowing God is also the highest endeavour and something that will be done until the day we die. Theology, back in the day, was called “The Queen of the Sciences”. It is, indeed, the greatest subject that we can set our minds and hearts upon. We are constantly learning. Does that describe you?
Thus, it follows, from the previous point, that a teachable person regularly reads the Scriptures. A person who does not read the Scriptures is not teachable. Not reading the Scriptures implies that you think you know it all already, or that what God has said is unimportant. The Scriptures contain the very words of God. Everything God wants us to know about Him is found in the Bible. Knowledge of God is the most important knowledge to possess. What God says about humanity, about sin, and about how to live a life that pleases him; all of that is found in His Word. Those who read, submit to, and willingly obey God’s Words are those who are teachable.
To be teachable means you value the preached word. Preaching brings the ancient text into the modern world. It helps us to see how the Word is applicable today. We also understand that it is through preaching that faith is generated in our hearts, and even in the hearts of the unconverted, especially when the Gospel is preached. I have actually never met a Christian who was growing who disliked listening to preaching. Listening to God’s Word preached is one of God’s means of grace -- that is to say, a means by which we grow. Ask God to increase your love for his preached Word.
To be teachable means to listen to your pastors and elders. Your pastors and elders are placed in their roles by God to shepherd your souls, to guide you, to rebuke you, and to exhort you. That means that you value their input, you welcome their attention, and you respond to their correction. One cannot consider themselves teachable when they don’t respect and listen to their church leaders.
To be teachable means you have people around you who can speak truth into your life and address your blind spots. Do you have one or two people who can do that for you? This means we need to be in close relationships with people in our church; we must invite them to correct us. Whenever I receive a correction, I do admit that I get defensive, but after that initial feeling goes away, I take the criticism to the Lord in prayer. I ask Him, “Lord, is what she said about me true? Do I do that behaviour? Do I possess that attitude?” I may even ask another trusted and mature believer who knows me well. I’ll ask them, “I recently received this criticism. Do you think this is true of me?” If the criticism is accurate, and if the action is a sin, then I will repent. If it is not a sin, but just a behavioural matter, such as, “You have a tendency to cut people off when they talk,” then I’ll ask the Lord for his help. At some point, either when the criticism was given or after you’ve dealt with it, go and thank the person who brought it to your attention. Tell them, “Thank you for caring enough to point that out.”
Those are some of my thoughts on what it means to be a teachable person. All of us should ask the Lord for his help to become more teachable. Let’s be gracious with each other as God’s grace powerfully works in all of us.
Soli Deo Gloria
Pastor Peter
