Proverbs 1:5 *A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels*:
Recently, my daughter was working on her school assignment. She asked what a female dog is called and that took me by surprise. I have always known the gender distinctions between some animals but not dog. Without thinking for long, her brothers said "a female dog is a bitch".
I asked them to spell it and they did. I thanked both of them for teaching me something new. In my growing years, i've always heard that word used as an insult when someone says, "you son of a bitch". I did not know the word meant something else.
When my boys told me what it is, I did not act as though I knew it but I forgot. You know, that is what some adults would have done because they don't want to be seen as one learning something new from children. I gave them their flowers and added that to my knowledge bank.
Learning comfortably from lowly people is one of the ways you'll know a humble person. There is a pride that comes with status, degree and high position. Oftentimes, those who seem to have attained a high rank in academics may not sit to learn under men of lower degrees because of the assumption that there is nothing to learn from such people.
A professor in theology may find it hard learning scriptures from someone who did not attend a seminary. The pride that comes with knowledge truly kills. The bible says, *"...knowledge puffs up..*"( 1Corinthians 8:1).
Parents maybe proud to learn from their children. In my culture, there is a popular saying in the mouth of adults that says,"before you came into this world, i've been here". Oftentimes, they say it to show how experienced they are but at other times, they also say it to prove a point to young people that they know more than them. While that may be true, that mentality should not prevent adults from learning what they don't know from younger ones.
I have been in meetings where senior pastors did not join other pastors to be trained whereas he knows nothing about the theme/ subject. Some will sit in their offices or they just walk out. When it is time to close the training, they may give a remark trying to prove they know the subject but their ignorance is revealed the more. I have seen this.
My late mentor who was a trainer of ministers in his life time often said that the hardest set of people to train are senior pastors. It is either they are too busy to create time for learning or they don't see a need for it because of their position. Some believe that only those with a higher rank can teach them. Once they size you up, and you do not match their ranking, they shut their minds.
Dearest, don't be too proud to learn from lowly people. Sometimes, they may know somethings that are hidden from you. No man is an island of knowledge. The only one who know it all is God.
Father, I receive the grace to learn in humility in Jesus name.