When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. ~Proverbs
10:19
Do you see one who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for that one. ~Proverbs 29:20
And when you pray do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask. This then is how you should pray: Our Father, who lives in heaven, your name is holy. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we also have forgiven those who sin against us. Lead us away from temptation and deliver us from the evil one. ~Matthew 6:7-13
My dear brothers, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. ~James 1:19-20
There was an old owl who lived in an oak,
The more he heard, the less he spoke,
The less he spoke, the more he heard.
Why can’t we all be like that wise old bird?
~Author unknown
I heard an interesting quote this past weekend by a man, named Abdul Murray, who is a former muslim and now a Christian apologist working with Ravi Zacharias. He was talking about the art of listening. He said: “Most people don’t listen to understand. They listen to respond with an answer of their own.” His concern is that most people are more motivated by their own agendas than by a true concern to learn where the other person is coming from. This isn’t just a Christian phenomenon. In truth, it is the human condition, fed especially well today in our fast-paced society in which people are more interested in the result than the process.
Abdul mentioned that his journey to Christ was about a nine-year process. Before his journey began, he was a staunch muslim who prided himself on defending his faith against anyone else’s and he enjoyed sending them running. He referred to himself as an equal opportunity offender. What started him on his journey to Christ, were two young men who took the time to listen and get to know him and understand where he was coming from. Abdul could tell that he wasn’t just a number on a score card with them, but that these two young men were sincerely interested in him. They conveyed this, not through what they said as much as through their listening.
Taking the time to listen is a powerful act. Most commentators believe that Job’s friends were at their best the seven days that they sat in silence and just grieved with him. It is awesome to say to another person, “I have the time, and you are worth it,” not in words, but in presence.
Most of us are uncomfortable with silence. We feel the need to fill it with something, anything! So, we start to babble and often end up saying way more than we should have. We can do this in our prayers. We can do this in the heat of the moment. We do this to excuse or explain or try to hide a mistake or misdeed. There is a simple truth: when we are talking, we are not listening. Yet, sometimes, listening can be our greatest gift.
Isn’t it interesting that James charges us to be, “quick to listen?” Imagine how wise we would appear if we greeted every situation as a silent observer rather than a peppering questioner? How many misunderstandings might be thwarted if we stopped, learned and observed before we spoke? What a challenge! To be truthful, I do know that a few of you have already mastered this art pretty well, but we all have to admit that it is a hard practice to follow.
We are saying lately that we want to learn more about the people around us to know how to be better servants of the community. Maybe we need to be praying that God will help us become better listeners first.
Prayer: Yes, Lord, help me hear everything that my brothers and sisters need to share. Let me be a better listener, comfortable with silence, perceptive and observant. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: Open My Eyes That I May See
Do you see one who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for that one. ~Proverbs 29:20
And when you pray do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask. This then is how you should pray: Our Father, who lives in heaven, your name is holy. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we also have forgiven those who sin against us. Lead us away from temptation and deliver us from the evil one. ~Matthew 6:7-13
My dear brothers, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. ~James 1:19-20
There was an old owl who lived in an oak,
The more he heard, the less he spoke,
The less he spoke, the more he heard.
Why can’t we all be like that wise old bird?
~Author unknown
I heard an interesting quote this past weekend by a man, named Abdul Murray, who is a former muslim and now a Christian apologist working with Ravi Zacharias. He was talking about the art of listening. He said: “Most people don’t listen to understand. They listen to respond with an answer of their own.” His concern is that most people are more motivated by their own agendas than by a true concern to learn where the other person is coming from. This isn’t just a Christian phenomenon. In truth, it is the human condition, fed especially well today in our fast-paced society in which people are more interested in the result than the process.
Abdul mentioned that his journey to Christ was about a nine-year process. Before his journey began, he was a staunch muslim who prided himself on defending his faith against anyone else’s and he enjoyed sending them running. He referred to himself as an equal opportunity offender. What started him on his journey to Christ, were two young men who took the time to listen and get to know him and understand where he was coming from. Abdul could tell that he wasn’t just a number on a score card with them, but that these two young men were sincerely interested in him. They conveyed this, not through what they said as much as through their listening.
Taking the time to listen is a powerful act. Most commentators believe that Job’s friends were at their best the seven days that they sat in silence and just grieved with him. It is awesome to say to another person, “I have the time, and you are worth it,” not in words, but in presence.
Most of us are uncomfortable with silence. We feel the need to fill it with something, anything! So, we start to babble and often end up saying way more than we should have. We can do this in our prayers. We can do this in the heat of the moment. We do this to excuse or explain or try to hide a mistake or misdeed. There is a simple truth: when we are talking, we are not listening. Yet, sometimes, listening can be our greatest gift.
Isn’t it interesting that James charges us to be, “quick to listen?” Imagine how wise we would appear if we greeted every situation as a silent observer rather than a peppering questioner? How many misunderstandings might be thwarted if we stopped, learned and observed before we spoke? What a challenge! To be truthful, I do know that a few of you have already mastered this art pretty well, but we all have to admit that it is a hard practice to follow.
We are saying lately that we want to learn more about the people around us to know how to be better servants of the community. Maybe we need to be praying that God will help us become better listeners first.
Prayer: Yes, Lord, help me hear everything that my brothers and sisters need to share. Let me be a better listener, comfortable with silence, perceptive and observant. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: Open My Eyes That I May See
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