August 19, 2026

“One who listens to life-giving rebukes will be at home among the wise.” – Proverbs 15:31

“Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke the wise, and he will love you. Instruct the wise, and he will be wiser still; teach the righteous, and he will learn more.” – Proverbs 9:8-9

I’ve come to a time in my life where I am experienced enough (or maybe just old enough) that younger people who feel called into ministry – often times from other churches – are now coming to me asking for guidance. I must pick and choose which ones I spend time with because I still need to put my family and my congregation first. Probably the biggest indicator of whether or not I am going to invest in someone who approaches me for ministry mentorship is something I call “teachability.” If a person comes to me and the conversation revolves around how much they know, how much they have read, and how much they have experienced, I will usually turn them down. However, if someone comes to me asking good questions and is excited to learn, I will set up regular meetings. In the same way, I strive to be teachable in the eyes of those who mentor me.

The book of Proverbs often tells us that wisdom is not about how much you know, it is about how much you are willing to learn. A wise person is not someone who has all the answers; a wise person is someone who is seeking out all the answers. Wisdom is understanding that you always have more to learn. So don’t feel bad if you don’t know everything yet – none of us do! Be a learner. Seek out godly counselors. Spend time in the Word of God. Foster a desire to always know more. Wisdom is not a destination; it is a life-long journey.

Lord, give us wisdom. We ask for both understanding today and a passionate desire to know more tomorrow.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Shane Cannon