Have you ever known someone who knows everything? No matter what the subject, they have the answers, and rather than listening and learning, they seek to teach. This is very often the case with people in spiritual matters and the Apostle Paul has them pegged perfectly–“desiring to be teachers of the law, but understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm” (1 Timothy 1:7). And instead of learning, they just keep talking.
One of the characteristics that should be reflected in every Christian is a teachable spirit. The disciple of Christ knows that our minds and hearts are fallen, our understanding is limited, and our knowledge is imperfect. As a result, a true follower of Christ thirsts to learn more of the Gospel and desires to be taught more about God and His Word. Teachable Christians humbly long to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18).
As Christians we need a heart and mind that seek to gain more understanding of the things of God so that we might grow spiritually and help others to grow. Paul put it this way, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” We need to be teachable and learn so that we in turn can teach and lead others.
To this end, God in His grace has given us several tools for our growth:
There is the church, which Scripture says is the “pillar and foundation of truth” (1 Timothy 2:15) and “out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation” (WCF 25.2, Acts 2:47). It is to the church that disciples of Christ are to submit themselves (Hebrews 13:7), and are not to absent themselves (Hebrews 10:25). It is in the church where the people of God are to come together to be fed on the Word and to worship as a covenant community.
There is the pastor or the minister of the Word, as the Book of Church Order puts it. The pastor, who has been taught by a number of Bible scholars and continually studies and learns from others, preaches and teaches to the end that believers might gain a greater understanding of God, of His Word and how to walk in obedience to Christ.
The Westminster Standards are another very helpful tool. The Standards are not inspired, but we submit ourselves to the instruction and the teaching of these standards, believing that they are a faithful explanation of Biblical doctrine. These standards are not just personal opinions, but were formulated over several years by a large number of some of the most godly and educated church leaders in Scotland and England during the 1600s and approved by the community of faith, the church, generation after generation.
Proverbs 1:7 says that “fools despise wisdom and instruction.” You may be surrounded by such people, but God calls you to seek wisdom and instruction with a teachable spirit.
Comments are closed.