Listen Up!
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20
When I was little, my mom would often have a teleconference meeting from home. As all children would do, they would want to interrupt their parents from what they were doing, and chime in. “Mom, can I go out? Mom, when are we going to eat dinner? Mom, can you read me a story?” It became an avalanche of questions until she uttered those famous words, “If I hear one more word out of you while I am on this phone …” After a few times, the words just became a look. One time, a look turned into two hours of just laying down on the floor. I fell asleep. By the time my mom had awoken me to ask what my request was, I simply said, “Good night, mom,” and that was the end of that. However, having the patience to wait allowed me to listen and learn a lot from my mom during those meetings. It helped me become a good listener. I often repeat what someone says just so they know I am focused on what they have said. Now, I am not sure that my mom had something biblical in mind when she insisted that I keep quiet and obedient during her heated discussions with her cohorts, but God gives you parents for a reason, I guess.
This got me to ask if I truly listen to God. No, I am not just talking about reading His word. I mean putting it in your own words and placing it in your heart. I rarely challenge a pastor on their word because I respect their knowledge and believe I can learn more from listening than telling. Yet every so often, I will reach out and challenge something they have said respectfully. Not in the ‘you are wrong’ sense but more in the ‘here is what I believe from what God’s word has said.’ I realize they may not be wrong, and it might even be foolish of me to question one as well versed on Biblical understanding. However, the real goal I have is that of a humble servant who seeks understanding instead of trying to be right, and if I speak with the heart of God, it is fair to question. I want to better serve God in a manner that would please Him. That to me is what speaking slowly is about. It is not about looking to score points or prove you are right although there are times for that (insert mentoring of daughter here). Instead, it is to both share wisdom and seek additional knowledge. But before we do or say anything, it is important that we first listen up.
Gaining God’s wisdom requires placing His word on your heart so that you can listen and speak with His intent. We often hear the Bible being called ‘the living word of God,’ and that is a fact. When we read of God’s word, it enters our conscience, and as we accept it, its words influence our thoughts and actions. We recognize value in everything we hear as either greater truth of God’s righteousness or a practice of discerning those things that are not of God. Thus, our own speech becomes more relevant for two reasons. First, we have listened to God’s word and acquire the necessary information to speak as God would want us to. And second, we speak to share truth with Godly intentions. Thessalonians 5 gives a clear indication of what ‘Godly intentions’ might sound like. Paul wrote, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing … Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, 16-18) These are the words and actions of someone who seeks to serve God and not themselves, and if we practice and accomplish both listening quickly and speaking slowly, we will tend to avoid the pitfall of the last part of today’s verses, which is anger. Put another way, the fruits of the Spirit will come from us if our intake of God’s word pushes us to listen, hear, understand, and act with prudence.
God blesses us in many ways. One is we are given the opportunity to share the Gospel with others. Sharing effectively requires us to remember the words in James. The greater we listen to not only God’s word but also those who may be lost, hurting, or in need, the better we can speak with a heart of God being of comfort to those who we speak to and a voice of reason to others. Let us take heed to the words of James to further our spiritual growth. What things can you do to be a better listener of God’s word and others? How can you build a heart for God such that others hear it in your words? My prayer is that when it comes to God’s word, we learn when to speak and more importantly when to ‘Listen up.’ Amen.