Being unteachable is a sign of a proud heart. Men and women who refuse to receive correction, necessary rebuke, and godly counsel are people who are destined to fall. Many verses in Scripture back this assertion.
Proverbs 11:14, for starters, tells us that, "Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety."
Leaders of groups, even nations, will do well to receive counsel and correction, even if it's not for them but for the people they serve.
Many people who have this attitude, however, don't notice it. But even though they don't notice it, they will notice its effects.
Still, there's hope for a person who repents of this attitude.
Do you want to know if you have an unteachable attitude? Here are some signs to look out for – coming from a person who's had struggles with this attitude for quite a long time.
1. Thinking That Your Way Is the Best, Even If You Find It Failing
Problems come, and for each situation there's a corresponding action that will solve the issue at hand. Many of us think that we can solve any problem, no matter what kind it is, but find ourselves failing when we use our usual approach. Do we receive a friend's wise advice to try another method, or simply assert that ours is best, and end up failing again?
Proverbs 26:12 tells us, "Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him."
2. Getting Offended for Being Corrected
This is a strong sign of an unteachable character: Do we get offended when somebody points out our faults and tells us what is right? If we do, we might have an unteachable heart and mind.
Proverbs 12:1 tells us, "Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid."
Yes, it's possible to accept and enjoy correction and instruction, simply because they help us grow and preserve our lives.
3. Appearing Receptive to Instruction, Correction, and Rebuke, But Secretly Rejecting It in Your Heart
Here's a sign that's actually easy to spot. Do we appear receptive to instruction or correction, and even repentant when rebuked, but still do the same thing that caused us to be corrected?
It's sort of a passive response: appearing to have agreed with the instruction or rebuke, but actually rebellious in the heart level. Many of us even add some grumbling, mumbling, or complaining to the mix, making it harder to solve.
Proverbs 12:15 tells us, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise."
