QUICK TO LISTEN, SLOW TO SPEAK
James 1:19-21
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
I love the sounds of the woods. The early morning when the world wakes up and all the birds start singing. The sounds of woodpeckers pounding out a rhythm on dead trees. The sounds of squirrels scurrying in the dry autumn leaves. Just this morning I enjoy listening as i hear bucks grunting in the hills and valleys around me, it is an amazing and beautiful sound.
Some of these sounds are calming and others so exciting… but they all have to be listened for to hear them. If you’re moving around in the woods, have the engine running or especially if you are talking, you miss some of the best things in life
Though the Christian community places high regard on the talent of pretty speech… in the scripture above, here James places the accent on listening. It is the person who listens intently to the Word of truth who moves forward in godliness.
As a boy and as a young man I can confess that I was quick to speak. Often I spoke without thinking enough first. Or I might have talked over others in a conversation. On my radio program, I often have to stop myself and allow the guest to speak. I have to tell myself to "stop and listen" and I've found that I learn a lot about others; their needs and passions. It doesn't really matter what they know about me... As long as they know that I care about them.
We will also find the more we intently listen, the slower we are to become quickly angered. We can discern an answer easier than we would if we were quick to speak.
I've heard the statement many times, "there's a reason God gave us two ears and only one mouth"... Good point.
In John 13:35 we are told "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
The world will also know that we love them if we are "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry". This is different than the world's way... People will notice.
Our prayer should be…. Heavenly Father, do whatever it takes to make me humble, so that I am quick to hear others and slow to speak my mind.
“QUICK TO LISTEN, SLOW TO SPEAK”
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