Can I Be Taught?

I read once where a basketball coach once told one of his players that he liked coaching that player, because when he was corrected on specific points, he usually did not make the same mistake again. That is, he only had to be told once. He wasn’t the best player in the state, or even the most athletic on the team, but the coach, knowing that players are not perfect, sought to teach, and enjoyed coaching those who liked to learn, or who at least willingly accepted correction.

Proverbs 12:1 recalled that story to mind:
“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid.”

I think most of us tend to enjoy discipline from the standpoint that we like to dictate what it is, or put another way, we’d rather be on the giving end of discipline; we’d rather teach than be taught. For parents, teachers, pastors, etc. teaching and a disciplined life are essential.

But keep in mind in this verse, the discipline and then the reproof are both being received, that is, the reader understands that these two words are very similar and referring to his/her attitude toward being taught.

Proverbs, by the time we get to this chapter, has already established the importance of wisdom, of understanding, of knowledge, and we have been challenged to embrace wisdom, and to put off folly, or foolishness.

A rather simple challenge then. If we love to be taught and corrected, it indicates that we love knowledge, leading us to wisdom, which is skillful living. But that further implies that we have to be willing to listen, learn, and I hope you’re sitting down…CHANGE!

The NASB, ESV, NKJV, and others all use the same word for the one who hates reproof. Stupid. The KJV says “Brutish”. Not exactly mincing words here. In fact, the Hebrew word used would involve the shunning of the person who is this way, who hates reproof or being corrected. I’m not necessarily advocating shunning someone based on a verse in Proverbs, yet the idea is clear. A wise person is teachable. A stupid (by this standard) person is difficult to be around.

So am I willing to learn, be corrected, and change where necessary? Or will I simply hate reading or being told something Biblical meant to correct my ways? I pray I will not be stupid when that occurs. I pray I am not difficult to be around. I sincerely pray that I willfully allow God to continually change me to be more like His Son.