The Courtesy of Listening
James 1:19 My dear brothers and sisters, always be more willing to listen than to speak. Keep control of your anger.
Have you noticed how rare it is these days to come across someone who truly listens to you; who really ‘gets’ you? Conversations too often feel like competitions – who can speak louder, faster, sharper. But when no one listens, everyone loses. Respect is replaced by noise, dignity by interruption.
British actor and comedian Rowan Atkinson recently said, “Talking over someone has become alarmingly common, as if silence between words is an invitation to interrupt. In a world where respect seems to dwindle, the act of truly listening is now a rare form of courtesy, yet one of the greatest signs of respect we can offer.”
The Japanese have a custom they call ‘ma’. It’s the art of pausing in conversation to digest what the other person has said – to think about where they’re coming from, to show respect.
Jesus modelled this kind of respect. He was never in a rush to cut people off. He listened to the cries of the blind, to the questions of the searching, even to the accusations of His enemies. His brother, James, later reminded us:
James 1:19 My dear brothers and sisters, always be more willing to listen than to speak. Keep control of your anger.
So here’s the challenge: are you truly listening to the people in your life? Your spouse? Your children? Your friends? Even those who disagree with you? Because listening isn’t a weakness – it’s love. It says, “You matter enough for me to hear you.”
So today – hold back from talking over. Resist the urge to fill every silence. Listen. Because in those moments of respect, Christ Himself can be heard.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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