SWIFT TO HEAR; SLOW TO SPEAK
James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.
This is a good life scripture if we want to get along with our spouses, children, friends, enemies, co-workers, and anyone else you can think of. Notice first, it says we must be quick to hear and slow to speak. Most people are quick to speak, even when they are not really listening. Proverbs 18:13 further explains to us about not listening, “He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.” The Message says, “Answering before listening is both stupid and rude.” What guidance this is; yet so many people do not heed this Word from God. They don’t listen; they just talk, and talk, and talk. We must listen to what people have to say, and not just listen to their words but also to their tone of voice and body language. Communication has taken such a huge hit in today’s society. In the Body of Christ, we must listen to one another. We must hear people. If we don’t, we will give answers without hearing. Answering before hearing is both stupid and rude the scripture said. Listening to others will help us to do what Philippians 2:3-4 says; we are told that, by humility, we are to count others more significant than ourselves and to not only look to our interest but the interest of others.
When we really listen to people, fully engage before answering, we are telling them, “You are important to me and what you have to say is important to me.” Proverbs 18:2 (NIV) really lays it out, “Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing his own opinions.” Everyone has an opinion, especially today, and everyone can air them without any proof; but if we want to really understand and be there for everyone around us, listening becomes of the utmost importance in our life. Let’s be quick to listen so that when we speak, our words will hold a lot of weight with people. If we are quick to hear, then we will fulfill the next part of the verse that says be slow to speak. When we speak to others without listening to them, it creates a boat load of problems. People feel like we are not hearing them, or we don’t really care what they have to say because we are speaking an opinion that is uniformed.
Proverbs 29:20 (ESV) says, “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” The Message says it this way, “Observe the people who always talk before they think – even simpletons are better off than they are.” This is a pattern with people. They never listen. They just talk, and the Bible is clearly warning us to not do that. I will tell you this, it is good practice to listen to people, so you will learn to listen to God. I have a hard time believing that people who are always talking and never listening to others really listen to God. Let’s decide right now to become a great listener. When you are swift to hear and slow to speak, it will also help you avoid wrath, so ask the Holy Spirit to help you become a slow talker because you don’t want to be a fool.