They don’t pretend they know it all…

We need to learn to be gentle, not judgmental with people who let us down.  We need to be tender without surrender when somebody disagrees with us.  And we need to be teachable, not unreachable when someone corrects us.

Meekness is a teachable spirit.  Meek people are eager to learn. Meek people don’t pretend they know it all.  They know they don’t know it all and they don’t try to pretend they know it all. 

James 1.19 (Ph) says, “Let everyone be quick to listen, but slow to use his tongue, and slow to lose his temper.” 

That is such a great verse.  It tells how to control your temper.  If you do the first two, the third is automatic.  If you’re quick to listen, and slow to speak, you will be slow to anger but if you’re slow to listen and quick to speak, you’ll be quick to anger.  You need to listen.  Use your ears.  Be teachable, not unreachable. 

When someone makes a constructive suggestion to you, how do you relate to it?  Do you get up tight, defensive? 

Listen, don’t consider the source, but consider the suggestion.  Meek people don’t have all the answers.  Be very wary of people who have all the answers.  Those are people you need to be afraid of.  They’re dangerous.

Are you open or closed to new ideas?  Are you open to change or closed to change?  “We’ve always done it that way!”  A meek person – when someone corrects you, you’re teachable, not unreachable.

I've been privileged to travel all around the United States.  I’ve talked to a lot of people.  The wisest people that I know are the people who are the most eager, the most willing to learn.  They have a teachable attitude.  They don’t think they know it all. 

Will Rogers used to say, “I never met a man I didn’t like.”  I honestly believe I’ve never met a person I couldn’t learn from.  Every one of you could teach me something.  We could teach each other.  We’ve all had different experiences.  Every one is ignorant, just on different subjects.  We need each other.  You can learn from anybody if you just know the right questions.

Just a thought from the front porch…