The words of the Apostle Paul to Timothy are telling: “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12). Apparently, Paul had reason to believe that there might be some who, because of their advanced years, would be reluctant to be taught by someone younger in the faith. Anticipating this, he admonishes his son in the faith to be an example to believers in more than just words; to evidence qualities befitting a servant of the Lord.
Thinking that we are beyond the point of teachability–for whatever reason–is a trap that can easily snare any of us. Perhaps it is because we have been Christians for many years that we bristle at the thought of being corrected by someone else. Or maybe because we associate with a particular group of churches, we feel we are beyond instruction in a certain issue. Or it may be a matter of simply refusing to admit that we are wrong, a lack of biblical understanding, or an abundance of spiritual pride. For whatever reason, the excuses for not having an openness of heart and an attitude that is “easy to be intreated” (Jas. 3:17) are difficult to justify in the light of Scripture–even though we may not be conscious of harboring these debilitating attitudes.
The Bible is replete with examples of those who thought they were beyond receiving instruction. The Pharisees scolded the man born blind who, after receiving his sight extolled the One who had opened his eyes. His clarion testimony only served to infuriate the proud Pharisees. Incensed, they chided “Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us?” (Jn. 9:34). They could not bear to think of someone less instructed than they were, to be in the position of teaching them.
Likewise, the nation of Israel as a whole demonstrated an attitude of unteachability. Three times they are accused of being “dull of hearing” with hearts and eyes closed to the Word of God. Isaiah was the first to utter these words during his ministry (Isa. 6). They were reiterated by the Lord Jesus to the nation during the time of His earthly sojourn (Mt. 13) and cited again by the Holy Spirit at the close of Paul’s ministry as the root sin of Israel in his day (Acts 28).
Additionally, the Athenians in Acts 17 also evidenced an attitude of unteachability. After hearing a convincing argument for the gospel by the Apostle Paul, their response indicated the condition of their hearts: “some mocked, and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter” (v. 32). So much for telling or hearing some new thing! Fortunately, some did believe, reminding us that God’s Word will not return void.
But the epitome of the unteachable attitude is vividly pictured by the scene in Acts 7 at the defense of Stephen, just prior to his martyrdom. After a convicting message that struck at their consciences, we read they “cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears…” (v. 57). Like petulant children, they refused to hear the very truth from heaven.
We are tempted to dismiss these examples of unteachable attitudes by unsaved men and women as inapplicable to the Christian. Yet at its core is the same attitude with which the believer must also continually do battle. As long as the “old man” is allowed to get some air, he will make every effort to revive and stir up trouble. Thus the exhortation to “put off” this corrupt expression of our former self (Eph. 4:22).
The Corinthians forgot this truth when being corrected by Paul for their blatant carnality. They had become puffed up in their knowledge to the point that they resisted instruction from the very one who was directly responsible for their faith in Christ. Amazing!
The Galatians also demonstrated that they had become calloused by allowing the leaven of false doctrine to permeate their ranks. They questioned Paul’s integrity and sincerity, causing him to exclaim: “O foolish Galatians! Who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the truth?” (Gal. 3:1). Yes, we can also allow an unteachable attitude to insidiously creep into the life. Sin and pride are the twin culprits in these cases–they were then, and they are now.
But not all the examples in the Bible are so dismal. Apollos, a man cited as being eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures, instructed in the way of the Lord and fervent in spirit, still had the humility of mind to be taught the way of God more perfectly by Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 16). His is a heart-warming example of the type of attitude that should characterize us all.
The two on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24 also evinced a teachable spirit. Having been joined by the Lord, “their eyes were holden so that they did not know Him.” Incredulously they asked this “stranger” how it was that He did not know the things which had happened in Jerusalem in recent days (v. 18), as if their knowledge was greater than His. Patiently, after a gentle rebuke, the Lord Jesus–beginning at Moses and continuing through all the prophets–“expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself” (v. 27). Not long afterwards, their eyes were opened, and they admitted that their hearts had burned within them while He taught them along the way. They were ready to listen to what the Lord had to say to them, even though they thought they were “on top” of things. How we need an attitude like this!
And look at Peter. He had to be taught again by Paul that the middle wall of partition had been removed between Jewish and Gentile believers. Paul declared that he had to withstand him to the face (Gal. 2:11) in the presence of fellow believers because of Peter’s weakness in the face of pressure. Had Peter forgotten the vision of the white sheet (Acts 10)? Yet the true greatness of Peter’s character and teachable attitude shines through when we hear him refer sometime later in his second epistle to “our brother beloved Paul” (2 Pet. 3:15).
These examples from God’s Word serve to remind us of the great men and women used by the Lord whose lives evidenced a teachable spirit. When we make a deliberate commitment in this direction, we will enlarge our capacity for understanding and our appreciation for the things of Christ. As Psalm 25:9 reminds us, “The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way.” May the Lord help each one of us to effect this quality in our lives so that we can “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18).