Proverbs 9

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” (Proverbs 9:9, NKJV)

When do we stop learning? When I was 18 years old, I was given the opportunity to go to Los Angeles to the recording studio of a very prominent record producer. He was teaching a group of aspiring recording engineers, and I was able to join them for the day. He said something I have never forgotten: “You can learn something from anyone.” He then explained how he always tried to learn something new from whomever he was with. He told the story of a young second engineer who taught him a recording technique that he used on a song that went to number one on the pop charts. Learning is all about attitude. If we remain humble, then we will never stop learning.

Another time I listened to pastors who grew up under the ministry of Pastor Chuck Smith. They told of times when they had done something stupid, and Pastor Chuck called them into his office. One pastor said that Pastor Chuck put up with most anything from the young men who served with him, and he didn’t fire them IF they were teachable.

Proverbs 9 compares two invitations. One is from Wisdom, and the other is from Folly. Wisdom invites us to fear the LORD and receive instruction. But Folly invites us to please ourselves by eating stolen food. The fruit of Wisdom is eternal life, but the consequence of Folly is the deepest hell.

Here is an easy test to decide if we are wise or foolish: are we willing to receive instruction? Are we willing to learn from anyone? Have we accepted Wisdom’s invitation and are we eating at her house?