Teachable Teacher

Great teachers never stop learning

WRITTEN BY DREW MATZ

“more important in life than teaching is the ability to and willingness to learn”

Teaching and being taught are intrinsic to the Christian walk. There are a countless number of themes to explore and plenty of material to cover over the course of a lifetime. But more important in life than teaching is the ability to and willingness to learn. Because scripture is adamant about instruction and humility, there is perhaps no greater character trait for Christians than to be teachable. With teachability comes growth, and with growth comes holiness – and isn’t that what we are to strive for?

Teachability – Defined

To be sure, being teachable is applicable to just about any situation in life, but it is of paramount importance when we speak as Christians, as the goal of every believer is to continue to grow and learn throughout our lives. To be teachable is merely an extension of humility before God and before others. It is an open acknowledgement of our inability to be self-sufficient. To be teachable is to embrace the fact that you don’t know everything, and that you recognize that there is something to be learned from all believers, regardless of their age, race, gender, or culture.

Humility Produces Wisdom

If teachability is merely humility applied to life, then wisdom is what naturally follows. Proverbs 11:2 notes when pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. Often, our pride gets in the way of our learning, and we wind up making bad decisions and make ourselves look foolish and even untrustworthy. Thus, humility and teachability are directly related to our sense of integrity and trustworthiness as believers. It demonstrates our openness to correction and reproof by those who are in place to hold us accountable – whether they are family, friends, or fellow believers.

Handling Criticism

“When we humble ourselves before Christ and one another, we are in a better position to grow and learn”

A person’s teachability is often manifested in the way in which he handles being criticized. This is applicable in everything from marriage to church leadership. A person’s demeanor when being criticized is indicative of his learning capacity. A person may become dismissive, flippant, or even angry at the notion that he could in fact be wrong. However, the scripture teaches us not to correct a fool, lest they turn on you and hate you (Proverbs 9:8). Rather, a mark of spiritual maturity is the lack of delusions about our own sinfulness and lack of wisdom. When we humble ourselves before Christ and one another, we are in a better position to grow and learn, and ultimately to become leaders and teachers ourselves in order that we might encourage others in the faith.

Display a Teachable Sprit

Discipline is a painful but necessary aspect of life. We all know this to a certain extent. An hour spent in the gym is painful, but pays dividends if we do it consistently. Even though it is difficult, the scriptures teach us to embrace the correction of God: “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives” (Hebrews 12:6). Thus, the teachable individual becomes a disciplined individual, one who becomes a better advocate, friend, and spouse.

Article written by Drew Matz

A native of Southeastern Ohio, Drew moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana where he earned an MA in Theology from Concordia Theological Seminary, cultivating a love for Historical Theology and Biblical Languages. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management from Franklin University. Being from the Appalachian Foothills, Drew is passionate about the outdoors and the natural wonder it inspires. Drew currently resides in Fort Wayne with his wife and daughter.