Teachable Spirit

Our family played a game of golf recently. Now our son has been given a gift when it comes to sports. He is not the best sports person that ever lived by any means, but he has a natural talent that allows him to be able to start a new sport and instantly do well. This bodes well for him when it comes to the front end of learning how to play a sport, but does not bode well once it is later on in a sports’ lifespan. His instant success creates a false sense of mastery and that leads to the feeling that he doesn’t need to practice (which means he doesn’t improve), and THAT leads to frustration when it comes to trying to play the sport further down the road. This also has created a situation in which he doesn’t always have a teachable spirit when it comes to learning how to improve. Needless to say, his mom and I are struggling with this teachable spirit part of parenting! 🙂

This example can apply very clearly to a Real Christian Businessman in the workplace as well. How are you at having a teachable spirit? When it comes to someone correcting you at work, especially a peer, do you see this as a “threat” that you don’t know how to adequately do your job, or do you see it as a help that will only improve you as a person and as an employee?

Jesus modeled a teachable spirit while he was on earth. He taught – all the while loving those around him. Even though everyone did not like what he said (think “Pharisees”!), in the end his gentle yet affirming approach to making our lives better was evident in every word that He spoke.

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” Prov 12:1 (ESV)

Do you love discipline? Appreciate reproof? I sure don’t. I have a built in defense mechanism that pops up when this happens – especially from those that are closest to me. I have been working a long while on improving this part of my personality and have become better over time, but I still have a long way to go.

I am writing us all a reminder today to remember God’s word when it comes to being teachable. Show your family and your co-workers by your example that correction and improvement in a humble way makes you and all of us better.

As we strive to be a Real Christian businessman, this is simply what we are to do.

What can you do today to demonstrate this?

“Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5 (ESV)