How To Be A Better Listener

The Lord is interested in our hearing. He has given mankind direction on the proper way to listen in the pages of Scripture. In one place, the Bible says, “let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19). This is a principle which certainly does not come naturally to most of us! Many times, I want to talk as opposed to listen. More often than not, the subject I am prone to discuss is my favorite...ME! Yet God instructs us to take a radically different approach to our conversational skills.

The above quote from the book of James must be kept in its proper context if we are to derive the most benefit. The topic at hand is the fact that “every good and every perfect gift” comes directly from the Lord (James 1:17). Included, of course, is “the word of truth” (James 1:18), easily one of the greatest of God’s gifts to mankind. Verse eighteen indicates that God “brought us forth by the word of truth that we might be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.” The gospel has the power to save (Romans 1:16-17) and thus change lives. Thus the instruction to “be swift to hear, slow to speak.” The principles and commands contained in Scripture are not up for negotiation. We have not the liberty to “make deals” or select which portions of the Bible we will accept. Why are so many uncomfortable or even irate at one or more commandments of God’s word today? It is simple really: They are swift to speak, slow to hear, and swift to wrath!

In the days of Christ, many of the Jews heard, but they did not really hear! Many today hear, yet fail to listen. There are several varieties of listeners today. Here are a handful of examples:

• One can listen and criticize; they can pick the words, sentences, or facts apart. They hear the language errors a speaker makes, but are impervious to the truth.


• There are those who listen in resentment. They hear, but they do so with great hostility in their heart. Truth does not alter their intellect, but rather fires their passions.


• Some listen in sheer superiority. These individuals do not listen, but merely hear your words to be polite.


• Some, however, listen to learn. They have an open, honest, yet discerning heart. They are seeking, knocking, and asking. These listeners will hear and obey the truth. They will experience great spiritual growth, and be blessed because they have taken the admonition of James chapter one and verse nineteen seriously.

Friend, how are your listening skills? Applying God’s counsel in hearing his word will certainly help you in your social listening as well. Everyone likes a good listener. Instead of consistently dominating the conversation, “be swift to hear, slow to speak.” If you apply this principle in social settings, people will appreciate you. If you apply this principle in your dealings with the Bible, God will surely bless you!

r2

One Weak Valve Equals One Big Mess

Those who know me at least somewhat well are well aware of the fact that I am one of the most squeamish of all the people who have ever walked the face of this planet. It's not only the sight of blood or an injury that will cause me to squirm and feel ill. Often just hearing about it will cause me to be weak in the knees! I've always said it's a good thing I had no aspirations to work in the medical field, for my dreams would have been dashed early on.

I struggled mightily in my science classes in which I was responsible for dissecting everything from a cow's eye (yuck!), to a frog (ugh!), to a fetal pig (ahhhh!), to a cat (excuse me for a moment........). Don't bother sending me emails making fun of my wimpiness, for I acknowledge it in full.

I'm glad I was sitting down this morning when I read a story about a certain tanker truck spill in the Pacific Northwest. This past Wednesday, the truck -- carrying 4,000 pounds of pig blood -- spilled all its contents on a roadway in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Zoikes!! Biohazard teams were sent to clean up the scene caused by a broken valve on the tanker truck.

Here are the numbers:

4,000 pounds pig blood
200 feet of roadway
1 tanker truck
1 broken valve on said tanker truck

That tanker truck was only as strong as its weakest link, and its weakest link happened to be exceptionally weak! The church of God is a living organism, made up of all sorts of individuals. At any point in time -- past, present, or future -- that number will always include those who are experiencing a spell of weak faith.

How are we to treat these brothers and sisters?

"And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all."
1 Thessalonians 5:14, ESV

If my counting is correct, this divine directive includes four verbs -- four terms of action God prescribes for our dealings with a weak brother or sister.

1. Admonish
2. Encourage
3. Help
4. Be patient

So friend, while holding fast to and being uncompromising with the doctrine of Christ, take care to admonish, encourage, help, and be patient with our weak brethren. When your own weaker times come, you will need the same!

R2