Characteristics of a Teachable Spirit

New Article: How to Be Teachable According to Proverbs

What does it mean to be teachable and unteachable?

In David Murray’s most recent blog post, he calls being teachable “the most important life skill.”

Here is his description of having a teachable spirit vs. an unteachable spirit:

What does unteachabilty look like?

• Don’t take notes, read books, or learn anything unless it’s the bare minimum or what’s essential for exam purposes.
• Don’t ask questions or attempt anything that might reveal your ignorance or risk you looking stupid.
• Don’t accept responsibility for your failures but blame anyone and everyone else.
• Don’t seek or accept one-to-one personal guidance or mentoring from parents, teachers, pastors, elders, etc.
• Don’t listen, but talk, talk, talk about yourself, especially when you’re with someone you could learn a lot from.
• Don’t take criticism or correction without resentment or retaliation.
• Resist moving out of personal comfort zones in work, study, ministry, or relationships, but always look for the easy and familiar route.
• Don’t read, listen to, or learn anything that challenges existing presuppositions, practices, and prejudices.

In contrast, teachability means:

• You’re aware of the limitations of your own knowledge and abilities.
• You admit limitation, inability, and ignorance to others who can teach and help.
• You regularly ask for help, instruction, guidance, and advice (before the event, not after disaster strikes).
• You learn from anyone and everyone you can (the best educated pastor I know writ
• es notes for his own benefit even when listening to a novice preacher).
• You listen to others carefully and patiently with a desire to learn from everyone.
• You’re prepared to move out of your comfort zone, try something different, make mistakes, look stupid, answer wrongly, etc.
• You don’t give up when you fail at something, but seek help, and try again and again until you get it right.
• You’re willing to change your views and practices when convincing evidence is presented to you, even if it means admitting you were wrong.

There’s another word for teachability:

HUMILITY.”

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5

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