Are You Teachable?

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1.21

Will they ever learn? Perhaps at some point in your life you have muttered this statement under your breath in frustration. Better yet, you may have been frustrated at your own inability to learn from your experiences and mistakes. Age and experience do not guarantee maturity and wisdom. James began his letter urging us as believers to recognize the Lord’s program for bringing us to maturity in Christ, namely, trials and tribulation. But James understood too well that trials do not guarantee growth—a teachable spirit is essential.

This verse begins with an assumption regarding the reader that bears directly on their readiness to “receive the word.” James assumes that you and I have already laid aside “all filthiness and overflow of wickedness.” The word rendered “lay aside” actually refers to something in the past. Before any believer can receive the word, he must set aside anything vulgar, impure, sordid or dishonoring. Like putting off a dirty garment, we have set aside the wickedness that characterized our behavior before trusting in Christ.

The primary call to action in this verse is to “receive the word!” This exhortation places the initiatve with us, not to begrudgingly accept, but to delight in His word. The Proverbs teach us, “buy the truth and do not sell it” (23.23). Job wrote of his longing for the word even more than the food necessary to sustain him. The psalmist desired the word more than fine gold and found it to be sweeter than honey. Spiritual growth is fostered by actively embracing the word of God.
Now, how does one receive the word with meekness? The term used here can be translated as gentle, willing, humble, or teachable. It is the opposite of brusque, irritable, ill-tempered, defiant, resistant, or stubborn. The believer is to demonstrate a quietness of spirit, being good-humored in the face of testing. These attitudes are consistent with the posture of a teachable child of God described in Psalm 25.9, where the psalmist says “The humble He guides in justice; and the humble He teaches His way.”

Finally, consider a moment what it is that we are to receive. In using the term “implanted word” James alludes to what is commonly known as the Parable of the Sower. In this parable, some seed yields a crop and some does not. The crops differed in relation to the condition of the soil on which the seed fell. James desired that the word yield an abundant crop in our lives as God moves us toward maturity.
Let’s seek to apply all this. Is there filth in your life rendering you unteachable? Are you making room in your life and schedule to receive the word of God? Do you have a humble and receptive attitude or has your position in leadership gone to your head? What are soil conditions like in your heart today? Are you approaching the unique pressures of your position each day in quiet dependence on the wisdom God provides?