You can't be FAT without "T"

This past Sunday I preached from Proverbs 12:15-23. Just for a change of pace I thought I would share a few points on the blog this week based off of that message. The sermon audio is usually posted by noon the Tuesday following the message.

If you've been around Christian circles long enough, especially when there are discussions related to Christian leadership, you've probably heard the concept of being a FAT Christian. FAT stands for faithful, available, and teachable. It may sound a little corny but I've found that it is actually a very helpful model for understanding the qualities of good leaders.

Proverbs 12:15 (ESV) says, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice."

A wise believer is teachable. We are in great danger if we become so closed to what others have to say that we never allow ourselves to be challenged. Growing in wisdom is a process that is continually being formed and reformed in us. It is not a surprise that Scripture calls the one who thinks that he can go his own way independently of others a "fool". We need to be open to those whom God brings across our paths as teachers without prejudice lest we be found foolish.

In the book of Proverbs, the fool is one who is character is consistently stubborn, irrational and often lacking in moral character. How easy it is to find ourselves traveling down the way of the fool when we for example are locked into our particular theological system, or become prideful in our "superior" education, or simply find ourselves convinced that we've arrived and others have yet to catch up.

Lord, give us eyes to see and hears to hear what your teachers are trying to say to us. Grant us the wisdom to know the difference between what is right and what is right in our own eyes.