Are You Teachable or Unteachable?

by Rick Warren — August 2, 2019

“At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: ‘O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike’” (Matthew 11:25 NLT).

Jesus wants us to be like little children because we need to remain teachable so we can mature and understand God’s plans. Children are eager to learn. They’re not defensive. They don’t say, “I don’t need to learn to walk. I don’t need to learn to talk. You can’t teach me anything about reading.” They know that they don’t know it all, and they’re eager to learn.

That’s how Jesus wants you to be: willing to listen, eager to learn, open to suggestions and corrections from others. Teachable people understand that it’s impossible for anyone to know everything about every subject. You don’t have time in life to learn everything from personal experience. It’s wiser to learn from the experience of others.

The Bible says in Proverbs 15:12, “Conceited people do not like to be corrected; they never ask for advice from those who are wiser” (GNT). Pride, at its root, is insecurity. Because of pride, people act like they know it all. Does that sound familiar?

When you’re afraid to show that you don’t know how to do something or how to answer a question, it may be a signal that you’re not teachable. If you get defensive when someone corrects you, it may be a sign you’re not teachable.

You have a choice: Will you be humble and open to learning, or will you live in prideful denial? Will you be teachable or unreachable? God is for you, and he’ll support you as you learn new things. And like a child growing to maturity, you can keep learning—that’s God’s desire for your life.

Talk It Over

  • When someone tries to correct you, how do you usually react? Does your reaction reveal your humility or your arrogance?
  • Think about an argument you’ve had with someone. How did either of you demonstrate humility? How did it make a difference?
  • Why is it important to continue learning?

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.