The Importance of a Teachable Heart
Why? How often do we hear that question? Probably as often as you ask it! I often ask it to myself. So let’s ask the question now, “Why is it important to have a teachable heart?” The importance of a teachable heart — but what does that mean?
So what does teachable mean?
I often begin with asking myself the simple question, “What is the dictionary definition of this word?” It might be simple but the depth of what you can learn just be looking up the word is so helpful as you think about a word. Does it mean what you think it means? Are there other words that help to describe that word.
I did the easy thing and just looked up teachable on the internet dictionary. Teachable is an adjective which means able to learn by being taught according to Lexio.com.
In one way everyone is able to learn. We might each be learning different things and at different speeds but we can all be learning. A teachable heart requires learning.
There is also the attitude of wanting to learn. Do you want to learn? Learning means that you will change. You will grow. Some times you even have to relearn things because what you learned was not the correct way.
This is an adjective so go back to your days of learning grammar. An adjective modifies a noun. It could be a teachable person, a teachable heart, or a teachable mind. Something needs to be teachable. Are you teachable? A teachable you?
Teachable Heart
I have chosen to use the word heart because while there are numerous areas that we want to be teachable, the heart is used to convey the idea of our spiritual life. The Bible often talks about the heart being the centre of man’s being. It is out of the heart that our actions flow.
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flows the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23 (ESV)
When I am fearful in my heart of a situation, I might react with a short temper to those around me.
When I am full of joy in my heart, it is seen in my actions. I hum a joyful tune and find joy around me.
I want to focus this on what God wants from us in our relationship with him. This leads to a teachable heart.
Why is a Teachable Heart Important?
We need to be more like Christ – A teachable heart is one that wants to grow, to become more like Christ. Paul writes in Ephesians 5:1-2, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved child. And walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” This is our primary goal which impacts every area of life.
To be an imitator of God we need a teachable heart. Our heart needs to be open to hearing God’s Word and being challenged to change. These verses follow some practical teaching in chapter 4.
We need to change – Change is not easy. I don’t always like change but it is necessary to learn and grow. We often don’t grow without change in our lives. Live changes even if we don’t want it to change. How do we handle the change? Do we view change as an opportunity to learn and grow?
In Ephesians 4 the practical things that Paul tells us to do or ways that we can change. Here is part of the list:
- Put off your old self 4:22
- Be renewed in the spirit of your minds 4:23
- Put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness 4:24
- Speak the truth 4:25
- Be angry and do not sin 4:26
- Give no opportunity to the devil 4:27
- Let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands 4:28
- Talk only such as is good for building up and may give grace to those who hear 4:29
- Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God 4:30
- Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and calmer and slander be put away from you along with all malice 4:31
- Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. 4:32
We change in the way God wants by spending time in His Word, allowing the truth of God’s Word to challenge our thinking, change our actions, and create a new heart.
The Ultimate Goal
The ultimate goal of a teachable heart is so that we will be imitators of Christ. This is the importance of a teachable heart.
We will grow in knowing God and his truths. Those truths should change how we relate to others, spend our time and money, and how we live our lives.
When you understand the importance, you can begin to make the change and have a teachable heart.
Strive to have a teachable heart for God’s glory.
Here is a post that might help you to understand ways to have a teachable heart:
Why do you think a teachable heart is important? Leave a response in the comments.
13 thoughts on “The Importance of a Teachable Heart”
This encouragement is so affirming! I have felt like the Lord was encouraging me to be humble and teachable in my heart before Him as I have been pondering and praying about all that is going on in the world right now. Thanks Beth!
It is an area that God has been prompting me. I trust that it will encourage others.
Convicting message, Beth! I’m grappling now with an issue that I know will take a teachable heart to receive all that needs to be shared with me. At the “heart” (pardon the pun) is humility. Am I willing to humble myself and learn from someone, especially when that someone is much younger? But if I want to be like Christ, like you’ve said, I must pursue a teachable heart no matter who is confronting or what the issue is. Thanks for this!
Humility is difficult and yet so important. Praying for you. From one Beth to another.
“Do you want to learn? Learning means that you will change.”
That is such a great question, and such a great point that learning requires change. You have me pondering my own willingness to change, and how that’s impacting my ability to be a good student of Jesus. Thank you for a thoughtful and encouraging post!
Beth, hi! We never arrive, our hearts always need to be tender, moldable, teachable, by His Spirit.
Thank you for this gentle nudge of remembrance.
It is the reminder that I needed. I love the way your described how our heart should be.
Hi Beth! Visiting today from the Grace & Truth link up. Terrific post, with great instruction. I like the way you started with really thinking about the word “teachable” and how it relates to our spiritual life. It really makes you stop and think, “am I teachable”? I know I have a lot to learn, but do I approach it like Jesus? Sadly not always. Thank you for the exhortation!
Great post! A teachable heart is so important in order to stay humble. I really try to model this & teach it to my kids. Thanks for this!
I think modelling this is the best way to teach it to others.
It is the reminder that I need. I am glad it was an encouragement to you.
Oh, Beth, I am with you! It is important that we allow ourselves to learn and grow in our relationship with Christ. We always have room to grow. We must humbly admit that we don’t know it all!
It seems the older I get the more I have to learn about God and yet the more precious he is through life experiences.