Proper 22 B - James 1:19 - Charles Swindoll
James 1:19
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be
quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.
"Check out Christ with the woman at the well (John 4). He could have blown her away with an endless barrage of verbal artillery. He didn't. He genuinely listened when she spoke; He "listened slowly." He read the lines of anxiety on her face and felt the weight of guilt in her heart. As she talked, He peered deeply into the well of her soul. It wasn't long before she found herself completely open, yet not once did she feel forced or needlessly embarrassed. His secret? He listened. He studied every word, each expression. Even the tone of her voice.
What does it take? Several things. Rare qualities. Like caring. Time. Unselfinshness. Concentration. Holding the other person in high esteem. Sensitivity. Tolerance. Patience. Self-control. And - perhaps most of all - allowing room for silence while the other person is thinking and trying to get the words out. Wise is the listener who doesn't feel compelled to fill up all the blank spaces with verbiage."
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be
quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.
"Check out Christ with the woman at the well (John 4). He could have blown her away with an endless barrage of verbal artillery. He didn't. He genuinely listened when she spoke; He "listened slowly." He read the lines of anxiety on her face and felt the weight of guilt in her heart. As she talked, He peered deeply into the well of her soul. It wasn't long before she found herself completely open, yet not once did she feel forced or needlessly embarrassed. His secret? He listened. He studied every word, each expression. Even the tone of her voice.
What does it take? Several things. Rare qualities. Like caring. Time. Unselfinshness. Concentration. Holding the other person in high esteem. Sensitivity. Tolerance. Patience. Self-control. And - perhaps most of all - allowing room for silence while the other person is thinking and trying to get the words out. Wise is the listener who doesn't feel compelled to fill up all the blank spaces with verbiage."
posted by shaun | 12:44 PM
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