Ready and willing?

It was Winston Churchill that reminded us that he was always ready to learn, but he didn't always like being taught. I guess we may all be a little like that at times - ready to learn, but not always in the best frame of mind to be taught. The godly offer good counsel because they have been both ready to learn and they have an earnest desire to be taught at the feet of Jesus.

The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong. They have made God’s law their own, so they will never slip from his path. (Psalm 37:30-31)

Right from wrong is not something we just 'glean' by watching others. People can have their own definition of both, and as much as they vary by individual, the outcomes produced by following those examples can be disastrous! Jesus said we had one reliable example - HIM. (John 13:15) We are to follow in his example - rely upon his wisdom, listen to his truth, understand his plan. Proverbs 3 reminds us that when we commit our ways to him, leaning into his understanding, we will have our path laid out in front of us. A wise person will always seek direction in life. 

The one who sees 'any old path' as worth following will ultimately find difficulties along the way. Isaiah warns: "What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever." (5:20-21) Good and evil exist, often side-by-side. We have to have God's 'sight' in order to uncover which is which, don't we? At times, evil is so apparent we need no help in identifying it. At others, evil is so 'masked' we almost miss the undertones of evil!

Being taught is one thing. Actually learning something is quite another. We might not always be in the right frame of mind to learn. The very best thing we can do when we notice that we are being taught but not actually in that frame of mind is to ask for God's help to change it. The more we ask for God's help, the more he will deliver on that request. Why? He doesn't want any of his kids to be duped by evil, much less pursuing it. Just sayin!