“Understand this, my Dear Brothers and Sisters: You must all be Quick to Listen, Slow to speak, and Slow to get angry” (James 1:19 NLT).
It is my desire to share with you today the convictions I received from reading this familiar passage; because I have been blessed – convicted and challenged to do better; and I trust and pray that you will be blessed also.
You must all be Quick to Listen! This is a great admonition; a great commandment, particularly when taken together with the next verse, “Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires” James 1:20). Is God saying not to be angry at unrighteousness? Far be it. The point is to LISTEN FIRST. Listening is the most difficult part of communication. Many confuse it with hearing. No, they are not the same thing; little effort is needed to hear; because if our ears are functioning well, there is a membrane there that collects the sound from the words being said and convert them into sounds that we hear – no efforts. But listening, not so; it takes efforts and practice, which is why the emphasis on this commandment from Apostle James – we are to be Quick to Listen. Speaking without clear understanding, without listening, – understanding provides perspective and context; causes damage, most of which cannot be fixed. It is like spilled milk; it becomes useless though originally intended to do good to our bodies. This is therefore, a call to practical Christianity, just like I challenged us last week.
This admonition also calls for patience, another difficult but important Christian virtue; and to engage in a process– Listening – that will develop understanding and wisdom; and enable us to understand the feelings; emotions; and concerns; beneath what is being spoken by a speaker. This understanding enables us to show love, provide support, engage in cooperative work – team work; allows for learning; and for correction and discipline where necessary. A rash reaction to whatever is said will not produce these outcome; hence the caution in verse 20 – the anger of humans do not produce the righteousness of God; and I dare add that it does not produce the righteousness, or any good for human beings, since humans do not have righteousness of their own.
So today, dear friend, as you have been given another privilege of life, to take on a new work week, may I challenge you to take seriously this warning and be blessed? As Christians, we are required by God to not only live righteously but also to uphold righteousness. A failure in this area is partly at the root of our problem as Christians and as a nation – Nigeria. But we must do it properly – according to the dictates of God, who has commanded us to live righteous lives. I was blessed with this reminder today, and I noted it in my journal as something to begin to practice more seriously for the rest of the year and the rest of life, the Holy Spirit helping me. What about you?
Have a blessed, God-centred and victorious week.
Further Reading: James 1:4, 19-25; Romans 10:3-11; Matthew 5:58; 2Timothy 3:16-17; 1Samuel 15:22-23.
