Growing in Teachability
From the time the people of God left Egypt, God has sent many prophets to call them back to God. One of the prophets God raised up to speak to them was Jeremiah. His words were on fire from the depths of his hearts, but in reality, they were words God had burned into his life to share. He called the people to one major action: obedience to God. We learned how they responded from Jeremiah 7:24:
“Yet they didn’t listen or pay attention but followed their own advice and according to their own stubborn, evil heart. They went backward and not forward.”
The people of God failed to be learners—the result was that they went backward, not forward. Even though Jeremiah was sounding God’s message faithfully, they chose not to listen.
Being unteachable never leads you toward God, but away from God. It never results in upward spiritual movement, but in spiritual decline. When God corrects us, He is calling us back to Himself. When we reject His correction, we move away from Him dangerously. When we choose not to learn personally, we forfeit the privilege to lead others.
There are four characteristics of a leader who is growing in their teachability.
Ongoing Humility
Many times, our own mistakes move us to great humility. Psalm 25:9 says, “He leads the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.” God marches forward with the person who is before Him in ongoing humility. The world calls it weakness, but God calls it strength.
Learning to Learn
Growing in teachability involves us learning to learn from God and others. As we grow in your personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we listen to God and godly counsel. The result is that we will become wiser the longer we live.
Gaining Wisdom
Wisdom is living life from God’s perspective. We discover wisdom from God’s Word as we read it, meditate upon it, and practice what it says. When we do this, our future is limitless and our hope abounds.
Growing Daily
Forward leaders are men and women who make it a practice to grow daily. I believe the secret to growing teachability is your daily personal walk and devotion to Jesus Christ. We must remember that God uses His people, at time, to speak to us. People can help shape the vision that God places within our heart.
Today, ask the Lord to counsel and instruct you.
“Lord, through your Holy Spirit please counsels me, grow me, develop me, and develop within me a growing teachability. Lord, use me for your glory, and use those around me to teach me.”
This is part 4 of a 5-part series about Forward Leaders. To read the other parts, click below:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President of the Southern Baptist Convention, and the Senior Pastor of Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas for 38 years. He is the author of multiple books, including Forward: Seven Distinguishing Marks for Future Leaders.
