Being Teachable

 

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. (Proverbs 12:15 ESV).

 

As children, we learn to ask for help if there’s something we aren’t sure about. We raise a hand in the classroom; we bring questions to adults who might have answers for us. We want to learn things, so we ask for help, information, and advice as we need it. For many of us, this tends to change as we grow older. We start believing that being independent and figuring things out on our own is most important. We become less inclined to ask for help or advice because we don’t want to seem weak.

 

Oftentimes our own experience or expertise may be enough. And not all advice is good advice, as many of us learn along the way. In our reading today we see the contrast of the arrogant, self-reliant nature of a fool, who rejects advice, with the humility and wisdom of listening to others. It emphasizes teachability and the danger of pride.

 

This verse is a helpful reminder that it is foolish to become wise in our own eyes, to believe that we always know what’s best, or to assume that our way is always right. Asking for advice or for help does not make us weak. It expands our ability to discern complicated situations. Often someone who is wiser or more experienced can see or understand the situation better than we can. And sometimes God puts people in our lives specifically for that reason.

 

It should not be a surprise the James tells us to seek wisdom:

 

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5–8 ESV).

 

Use the resource of wise people God puts in your journey and pray that He will give you wisdom and discernment! A fool is in love with his own opinion; but wisdom means being teachable. We will never get old enough to know it all!