by Gorgon at www.freeimages.com
What are Christians known for more; our mouths or ears?
True or not, most would answer that we are known more for what we say. We certainly should be known for proclaiming the truth in love. We have to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, but being known for our ears will help others hear the gospel message.
James says we are to be “quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.”
Good listening is an act of love for the other person. When we listen we bestow value and worth on the other person. We convey love and understanding to them through listening. When we make eye contact, give regular feedback, and communicate non-verbally, we love by listening.
Good listening hears with our hearts as much as our ears. Jesus listened to people with his heart and understood their hearts. Good listening stays with a person long enough to convey trust and hear their story, even the part they are not verbalizing. When you listen you seek to feel for the person and have the other person’s pain in your heart. Listening can prevent suicide! It can bring a soul to Christ! It can save a marriage! Listening can change the course of a young person’s life.
Good listening is patient. It doesn’t come easy to listen. It is easier to say what is on your mind, than it is to listen to someone share their mind. Good listening requires endurance and patience. It requires concentration and focus in a world filled with distractions. It seems to me that when people, who are explaining their current predicament, say they are there because no one listened to them, what they often mean is that no one stayed with them long enough to fully hear their story. They weren’t patient and compassionate enough to hear their deeper story.
Good listening reflects our relationship with God. God has always called his people to listen. We talk about being the mouth, hands, and feed of Jesus on earth, but what about his ears? If we aren’t willing to listen to others, then it reflects on our witness for God. It also likely means we aren’t listening to God very well ourselves. A good listener represents God to others.
Go listen to someone today and make a difference!
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Inspiration and sources for this post:
Gary Bradley’s lecture on listening at Better Conference Sept. 2016
http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/six-lessons-in-good-listening
