The Art of Listening
This morning during my devotion I turned to the book of Proverbs. Recently I have been going to scriptures which teach on every day practical discipline. The Lord challenged me this morning in my listening skills with the following Proverb:
“He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.” Proverbs 18:13
So many times I have observed peoples conversations (including my own) and very often I notice people (including me) speaking over one another and not waiting for each other to finish before interupting. Some people ask questions they don’t really want answers to and when the other person tries to answer it, they quickly jump in again.
Do I listen to a persons question/comments until they have completely stated it before I respond or answer? Do I hear the matter completely and understand it before I respond back? Has my heart heard the matter or just my ears? Hearing doesn’t just mean listening but also understanding. Being patient with the person and waiting. What are you like? Do you give people a chance to talk? Do you listen to other views patiently. When you do respond, how do you respond? With a sharp tongue, anger, rudeness? Or do you respond with grace, authority, love, meekness and the wisdom of God.
Our Christianity must not just be in word but in deed also. Our mannerisms and behaviour ought to be Christ like, gentle, meek, patient, warm, attractive and welcoming and the hardest place to do this is often at home, those who we are most comfortable with.
It is to our folly and shame if we do not yearn and practice this important Biblical teaching. It is by small things such as this that make us the light and salt of the world as Christ commanded us to be. Sometimes we try to aim for the huge big spiritual disciplines and truths, yet there are small niggly ones in our lives we haven’t straightened out or tackled. The Bible not only teaches us spiritual truths but wisdom in this world. God wants to pervade our whole essense, being, character, personality, mind, body and soul. Ultimately, the reason we do this is so that Christ is glorified and the Cross of Jesus Christ is demonstrated even through our listening.
“Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” James 1:19
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About the Author (Author Profile)
Vic Gill is currently serving as a Church planter at Grace Community Church, Richings Park. His greatest aspiration is to love his wife, faithfully expound God’s Word to a dying world and to simply love Jesus and know Him more intimately. He enjoys studying the Puritans, Reformed Theology and Philosophy.
Dear vic,this is so true on the art of listening, Im so guilty of this,one of the first things myself and my brother noticed in you and simi company was that you listen to us you were so patient too.This made such a difference the love of God was so evident in you both.I have so much to learn, you made me realise that if I seek after God I can come to know him for myself. Praise God for this site. in his love nina