WEEKLY WORD

Continuing Thought for the WEEK – [5.11.21]

James 1:19-20: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

CONTINUING THOUGHT for the Week:

Yesterday we talked primarily about being quick to listen and slow to speak. This passage in James chapter one is an interesting passage. It is interesting in how it is written and it is interesting in the verbiage that is is used. James uses the words “slow” and “quick” in regard to how we should respond to listening and speaking. What’s even more interesting is how most of the time I am just the opposite of what this passage tells us to do. I am usually slow to listen and quick to speak, instead of being quick t0 listen and slow to speak. Now, here’s something else that I want to point out today, first of all, James tells us that we should take note and secondly he says that EVERYONE should be quick to listen and slow to speak! Not just those who feel like it, but everyone! Also, he doesn’t say that we “will be” slow to speak and quick to listen, he says that we “should be” slow to speak and quick to listen! He may be saying that “if” we were quicker to listen and slower to speak we would experience better results in communication with others and we would probably enjoy more meaningful relationships with others as well. In other words, make listening a first priority and make speaking your second priority. Quickly listen and be slow to speak out or speak up! I believe that this will also result in less regrets. So, here’s my challenge for you: hold your tongue and open your ears and see what happens in your dialogue with others, especially in those untimely disagreements that will pop up from time to time during your day. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to be quick to listen and to be slow to speak. May I glorify you by what I say and through what I listen to. In Jesus name, Amen.   

MAIN THOUGHT for the Week:

• The words silent and listen are spelled with the same letters, just in a different order.
• It is difficult to hear what someone else is saying when you are talking!
• You can be silent and not listen and you can talk without thinking!
• You can’t take back what you have said- after it has been spoken!