One of the greatest dangers a pastor faces is becoming unteachable. It doesn’t happen overnight. It happens subtly, over time, under the banner of time and experience. Quietly and inwardly, you start thinking you have learned enough. You stop receiving correction. You sit in a church service, but instead of receiving, you’re critiquing. Instead of taking notes, you’re writing down all the things you need to do later. You’re physically there, but your mind is on the next thing you need to do, and the Word no longer pierces your heart as it once did. When you stop letting Jesus speak to you through your pastor and His Word, you will find yourself spiritually dry very, very quickly.
Never forget this: in God’s Kingdom, we are all replaceable. It is easy to forget that. When people praise you, it can get to your head. When the applause of men surrounds you you can forget about Who you’re serving.
If someone appreciates you and praises you, remind them of God’s faithfulness and give that praise to Jesus. When criticism comes, pray through it and give it to Jesus, too. Let Him sort it out. The goal is not to protect your pride or to maintain a certain image. The goal is to grow in grace, becoming an even greater servant in God’s Kingdom. Proverbs says, “Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid” (Proverbs 12:1). Memorize it.
God has called you to die to yourself daily, to take up your cross, deny yourself, and follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24). That means you let go of your ego and let the Lord replace it with humility and spiritual dependence. That means you let God deal with your ambition and pride so you can keep your heart tender and teachable. You never arrive at a place where you stop needing to be teachable. You simply never outgrow it.
The Word of God is your guide. It corrects you, instructs you, and shows you where your thinking needs to change. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Let it continue to shape you and train you as you serve. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5). Stay humble, and stay teachable.
Your people need you to keep growing. Your family needs you to keep growing. The Lord will continue to use you as you remain in a place of humility before Him. Ask the Lord to keep your heart soft and your ears open to His Word. Stay teachable.
Adapted from the book, Sure and Steady by Pastor Ed Taylor. CH 5
