Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more. Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. Proverbs 9:9-10 (NLT)
Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I shall observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law and keep it with all my heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to dishonest gain. Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, and revive me in Your ways. Establish Your word to Your servant, as that which produces reverence for You. Psalm 119:33-38 (NASB)
Yesterday we talked about the necessity for humility to be in place in our lives if we expect to benefit from the wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. A close companion of humility is teachability. Teachability needs to be in place in our lives as well if we are going to benefit from the bestowal of wisdom through the book of Proverbs that God wants to bring about in our lives over the next few weeks. While teachability begins with an openness to being instructed, it also includes being able to admit when we are wrong and to accept the need for change.
This brings us back to what we said about grace yesterday. As with humility, teachability is all about putting ourselves under God's authority and care. Without a teachable spirit it is highly unlikely that we will be recipients of wisdom. To become a person with a teachable spirit, we need a special touch of grace from God. Teachability does not usually come naturally to us and the conditioning influence of society militates against it. Without a work of grace by God in our lives, we would remain unteachable.
As our verses from Proverbs for today point out, the wise person (teachable) when instructed will become even wiser and they will learn even more. The teachable person is not the center of his own existence. This center place is reserved for God alone (fear of the Lord) and the teachable person has given God this place. Let's join the Psalmist in his prayer regarding teachability. Notice all the things he asks God to do in regard to being taught, "Teach me," "Give me understanding," "Make me walk," "Incline my heart," "Turn away my eyes," "Revive me," and finally, "Establish Your word to Your servant, as that which produces reverence for You."
Lord, I do pray that I will be more willing than ever to be instructed, to admit where I am wrong, and to accept where I need to change. Truly prepare may heart for the work you want to do in my heart and life through the book of Proverbs over the next several weeks. Amen!
