Healing Choices: Be Teachable, Not Unreachable

“If you accept correction, you will be honored” (Proverbs 13:18 NLT).

Meekness means you have a teachable spirit. Meek people are eager to learn. They know they don't know it all and they don't try to pretend they know it all.

James 1:19 is one of my favorite Bible verses: “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry” (NLT). It tells how to control your temper. In fact, if you do the first two, the third is automatic. When you're quick to listen, and slow to speak, you will be slow to anger.

On the other hand, if we're slow to listen and quick to speak, we'll be quick to anger. We need to listen; use our ears; and be teachable, not unreachable.

When someone makes a constructive suggestion, how do you respond to it? Do you get uptight and defensive? Are you open or closed to new ideas? Are you open to change or closed to change? When we are meek someone can correct us because we're teachable, not unreachable.

A few weeks ago I saw this sign: “I’d rather change my mind and succeed than have my own way and fail.” Proverbs 13:18 says, “If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored” (NLT). A meek person is not a weak person; rather, a meek person is understanding, not demanding; gentle, not judgmental.
A meek person is someone who has made the healing choice to be teachable.

Rick Warren