The Bible says to be quick to listen and slow to speak. And, yes, slow to anger.
….but it is so so easy to do the exact opposite…
As humans we tend to be quick to reply, quick to add a comment. And sometimes – if not most of the time – before the other person even gets a chance to finish his or her argument/story/whatever they’re talking about!
And most of the time we react instantly.
If we’re only randomly chatting away, this might very well be acceptable. Even expected.
But if when in a situation of hot topic and/or confrontation even, then constant arguing might not serve as well.
Think about it. When someone is just randomly screaming and constantly interrupting, it is oh so easy to lose respect. And when there’s no respect? Odds are we’re no longer listen either.
I hear ya. “But…all those politicians?”
I’m not talking about those clowns and actors. (To be clear, there are exceptions to this rule too, but overall? Let’s be honest…)
No, what I’m thinking about is everyday people. People just like you and me. People we meet in our everyday environment.
Here’s where I’m going with all of this: James 1:19
Be quick to listen, slow to speak.
WHY is this so hard?
A few reasons. Yet mostly cause our human egotistical brain. But there’s also this one little detail.
Like so many other things that have value, this one requires work.
Listen.
Listening requires waaaay more work than speaking.
Focusing on what someone else is saying and explaining WITHOUT input zaps more brain power.
Yet, like everything else that takes work, it can be so more rewarding in the long run. Cause…imagine people running around talking about themselves and no one listening to a word of it. It’d get boring really quickly.
No wonder our creator had to guide us to be more like Christ.
“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
James 1:19-20
But not to take the verse out of context. Let continue.
See, even when we do listen, He calls us to, not only be hearers, but to be doers.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”
James 1:22-25
Sounds familiar though?
It sure does to me.
When I hear something that sounds great and think I’ll implement it? Only to walk away and almost immediately forget what kind of woman He wants me to be?
This is when I need to set my mind on Him, do His work, and become a doer.
Take away:
- Listen.
- Create habits that create consistency and congruency to become a doer.
- Ultimately, lean on Christ Jesus and be more like Him. Because ONLY through Him can I accomplish anything.