A Good Listener

 

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:19-21 ESV).

 

Our age of nearly instant response time through technology has made a very common human problem worse. Any student of human nature will agree that we typically are not very good listeners. And, the more we are reminded that God made us with two ears and one mouth, we still are just not good at listening. You’ve been there before. You’re having a conversation and before your story is half finished they’re responding with a better story of their own. I’ve noticed this observation is even truer as we age. And, don’t even start talking about previously health problems. Someone else has a bigger surgical scar or scarier diagnosis than you do! Well, as our reading shows, the Scripture has something to say about that problem.

 

When we listen too little and talk too much, we show that we think our ideas are more important than the ideas of others. But James grabs us by the elbow, turns us aside, and warns us, “Everyone should be quick to listen, [and] slow to speak …” (v. 19). I’ve found the truth of today’s accompanying meme accurate: “You earn respect with your ears and lose it with your mouth.” We may think we’ve had a wonderful conversation with someone until we are asked what they’ve said. If we can’t recall, that’s probably a danger sign. Someone else may have been a good listener, but we weren’t.

 

James’s letter is about applying our faith and making sure that we live out our faith in line with God’s will. Words about being saved by grace and not by works are wonderful, but our faith, if it’s real, will come to expression in what we say and do. Jesus teaches this in his parables. James applies it to our need to treat people well in all our relationships.

 

Are we quick to become angry because we haven’t bothered to listen carefully? If so, we’d listen better by hearing both the words and the heart of the person who is talking. That takes both ears!