Proverbs 1:2 — The Willingness to Be Taught

“To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight.”

MY STORY

I have spent many years working with people — in pastoral care, business, leadership and now coaching. Experience has taught me things I couldn’t have learned from a book. But the moment I think that experience means I no longer need instruction is probably the moment it begins to work against me.

Today, I value having people around me who can challenge me. I have my own professional supervisor. I read, listen and ask questions. Increasingly, I try to pay attention when something makes me uncomfortable, rather than immediately dismissing it. Comfort confirms what I know. Discomfort confronts what I don’t.

Solomon invites us to become people who are willing to learn and, when necessary, be corrected. Wisdom begins with how willing I am to be taught.

KNOWLEDGE — More than information

The Hebrew word for “instruction” is מוּסָר — mûsār, meaning instruction, discipline, correction or training. The Greek Septuagint uses παιδεία — paideia, carrying the idea of education, training or formation.

Information gives me something I didn’t know. Formation shapes the person I am becoming. Proverbs brings both together: what I learn is meant to change how I live. Sometimes that will encourage me; sometimes it will correct me. If I want wisdom, I must be willing to be formed.

UNDERSTANDING — Learner and teachability

The CliftonStrengths theme Learner finds satisfaction in discovering something new. But I can enjoy another book, course or qualification while resisting someone who shows me something about myself I would rather not see.

That takes more than curiosity. It takes teachability. The question becomes, “What am I willing to have corrected?” A mature Learner allows what they learn to change them.

WISDOM — Taking responsibility

Stephen Covey’s Habit 1 — Be Proactive reminds me that I am responsible for my response. A supervisor, coach or colleague can offer valuable feedback, but I must decide what to do with it.

I can explain it away, or pause and ask, “What part of this belongs to me?” That is where instruction begins to become wisdom. The value of a conversation is found in what I take responsibility for afterwards — and what I do differently.

James 1:5 invites those who lack wisdom to ask God. That requires the humility to recognise that I don’t know everything I need to know, even in areas where I have years of experience.

REFLECTION

A good supervisor helps me see what my experience may have taught me not to notice.

• Where has your experience made you harder to teach?
• Who has permission to tell you something you may not want to hear?
• What have you learned recently that has changed your behaviour?

Proverbs 1:1 invited me to consider who I am and where I belong. Proverbs 1:2 asks: Am I still willing to be taught?

What will you do differently?