Listening

It's all right to hold a conversation as long as
you let go of it once in a while.

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be
quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.
— James 1:19

A man joined a monastery to become a monk. Each year, the young monk was permitted to speak only two words. The first year he said, "Food cold." Another year of silence, he said, "Bed hard." After year three he said, "I quit!"

His superior said, "I'm not surprised — all you've done since you've been here is complain!"

Six words in three years is tough for the average American. We spend one-fifth of our lives talking. We engage in 30 conversations per day. We speak 20,000-30,000 words per day.

Every Sunday millions of people go to church and hear billions of words in sermons. And when it's all said and done, more will be said than done.

James exhorts, "...be quick to listen, slow to speak." The good Lord gave us two ears and one tongue. Do you suppose He intended for us to listen twice as much as we speak?

As Christians, our first responsibility is to listen to the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16 tells us, "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature."

Have you heard from the Holy Spirit today? Some of us just need to stop, stand still, and be quiet long enough to hear Him when we are engaged in converation or called upon to speak. Sometimes, only listening to Him can keep us from putting our foot in our mouth!

Taken from The Minister's Little Devotional Book.
Copyright © 1997 by H.B. London Jr. and Stan Toler.
Used by permission of RiverOak Publishing, Tulsa, Okla.
All rights reserved.