A Teachable Heart
Recently during a trip to America I decided to read the book, “Boys Among Men” by Jonathan Abrams, which is about high school basketball players who jumped straight to the NBA. There were many success stories like Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. And there were also many disaster stories of kids who flamed out, fell into depression, and even had mental breakdowns. The disaster stories became such an issue that beginning in 2006 high school players were required to go to college for at least one year in hopes that they would “grow up” and be more ready physically, mentally, and emotionally for playing in the NBA.
There was an underlying theme throughout the book as the author shared stories of different players who succeeded and who failed. I’ll share a few quotes from the book to demonstrate what stood out most…
“What separated them (the successful players) from others who didn’t succeed as long or as well, they’re willing to listen. They wanted to learn” – Arn Tellem, well known agent for NBA players.
“The qualities that separated (Amir) Johnson from others who failed are clear. Johnson was not playing with the Pistons, so he asked to be demoted to the minors to gain some playing time. He tried staying away from the nightlife. He asked questions and listened to the answers.”
“The ones who developed into great players were united in viewing the NBA as a starting point toward achieving their goals, not the end point.”
“Part of it was that Kevin (Garnett) never felt that what he got, that he was owed that. He felt that he had to earn everything, where Ndudi Ebi, like a lot of those guys (who failed), felt that they were owed something. When you feel that you’re owed something, then you’re never going to respect the game the way it needs to be respected.”
Notice the themes: Wanting to learn, humble, having a long term view, and not being entitled. These themes don’t just correlate with success with basketball, but also with success in life.
The most important thing I look for while pastoring at the church, serving at the orphanage, and directing the orphanage ministries is this: a teachable heart. I have met some extremely gifted and talented people over my many years in the ministry, but sadly for a number of them their pride and their rigidness made it too difficult to do ministry with them. I have served so many different children at the orphanage over the past 10+ years, and it has always been the humble, teachable kids that have received the most from me and developed well.
And so I want to encourage: check your demeanor as someone teaches you or speaks into you. Ask God to speak to you through them. Be eager to learn and humble enough to receive correction. And may you succeed even more than those high school players who became world famous athletes.
Proverbs 13:18 – Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.
Proverbs 9:8-9 – Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
Hosea 4:6a – My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.
Proverbs 29:1 – He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.
“A man who will not do well in his present place because he longs to be higher is already too high and should be put lower” – Charles Spurgeon.
