A college basketball coach said many “sand lot” players had extraordinary skills, but that only some were coachable, and that only the ones who were coachable would play in college.
What a shame to lose developing that talent. They limited their futures from refusal to learn, failure to be coachable, inability to be teachable.
Unteachable people are found in both secular and spiritual arenas: Leaders who are derailed from inability to learn and/or apply; Athletes who don’t listen to their coaches and cannot get to the next level; “Ordinary” Christians who don’t grow.
The Bible has examples of the unteachable and the teachable.
The Unteachable
But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. (Acts 7:57)
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. (Proverbs 26:12)
How I have hated instruction! And my heart spurned reproof! I have not listened to the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to my instructors! (Proverbs 5:12–13)
The Teachable
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42)
Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. (Acts 17:11)
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)
Learn and Apply
Knowledge of the Bible is necessary, but not sufficient, to walk according to the Spirit. We must apply what the Lord teaches us.
We must not be wise in our own eyes, but humble. Humility is essential to learn.
In humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)
We must apply what we learn.
Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (James 1:22)
When we see something wrong in ourselves, and we will, we must accept reproof, confess, and prayerfully work to change.
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. … If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. (1 John 1:8, 10)
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
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Father, please help us be teachable. Help us desire to know Your word and apply it. Please help us be willing to accept Your reproof. Help us be humble, not wise in our own eyes.
