I talk too much.
Yes, me. I find it so much easier to put things into words than to act. I also find it even more easy to put my thoughts into words than I do to listen to someone else do the same. I hate that about myself.
Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah… Conjures up images of Charlie Brown’s teacher. Sigh.
God has really speaking words of wisdom to me about kindness and gentleness. We serve the Almighty God, the Everlasting Father, the King of Kings, and He spoke into existence all that we see and that which we cannot see. He loves us so much He saves us and He speaks to us as one does with a friend. And, such conversation means that He listens to us. He gives us the grace to approach His throne of grace and lay our hearts out before Him, listening to every word we share with Him. That kindness and comfort is beyond my understanding.
Nevertheless, this one thing I do understand. Because He shares such kindness to me, I must share the same kindness, gentleness, graciousness, and comfort with others. If God, the One and Only, is willing to listen to me share my hurts and anxieties, I absolutely must be ready and willing to listen to others in need.
Even last night as I shared a bit about what God had been showing me about His kindness, someone confirmed that God had recently been showing them that a big part of Kindness is learning to listen. Oh how I want to be a better listener! Help me God!
Consider these words from Psalm 107, showing God’s great kindness and His immeasurable ability to listen to our cries:
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever. ***
5 They were hungry and thirsty,
and their lives ebbed away.
6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
to a city where they could settle.
8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men, [This verse about His unfailing love is also repeated throughout]
***
[His children did stupid things and enslaved themselves to sin.]
13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
***
[His children did stupid things and enslaved themselves to sin.]
19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
***
[His children did stupid things and enslaved themselves to sin.]
28 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
***
43 Whoever is wise, let him heed these things
and consider the great love of the LORD.
God is listening and so should we be. We tend to want to talk and tell everybody else about what they are doing wrong or what we are doing right. Instead, God desires that we lovingly listen to Him and to them, being willing and able to share our hearts with them no matter what stupid things they have done. Jesus took time to listen to the woman at the well, Zaccheus, and so many other hurting hearts.
Not only is listening kind, it is key to gaining wisdom. After considering what God says about listening, one surely must be an idiot not to hone their listening skills. The Proverbs are literally littered with verses on listening. Those who are wise listen; those who aren’t don’t listen or listen to the wrong things. 27 times in Proverbs and a couple more in Ecclesiastes God tells us to listen. Listen up – this may take a while, but I think it is worth repeating!
[L]et the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance- Proverbs 1:5
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Proverbs 1:8
[B]ut whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm. Proverbs 1:33
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. Proverbs 4:1
Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. Proverbs 4:10
My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Proverbs 4:20
My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, Proverbs 5:1
Now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say. Proverbs 5:7
I would not obey my teachers or listen to my instructors. Proverbs 5:13
Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. Proverbs 7:24
Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. Proverbs 8:6
Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Proverbs 8:32
Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Proverbs 8:33
Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. Proverbs 8:34
The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. Proverbs 12:15
A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke. Proverbs 13:1
He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise. Proverbs 15:31
A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue. Proverbs 17:4
He who answers before listening— that is his folly and his shame. Proverbs 18:13
Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Proverbs 19:20
Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. Proverbs 19:27
A false witness will perish, and whoever listens to him will be destroyed forever. Proverbs 21:28
Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, Proverbs 22:17
Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path. Proverbs 23:19
Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Proverbs 23:22
Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear. Proverbs 25:12
If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked. Proverbs 29:12
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Ecclesiastes 5:1
It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:5
James tells us about God’s great goodness and love, explaining that he gave us life through the word of truth. He then proceeds to tell us to be quick to listen.
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry….
May we spend our lives listening to the Word of Truth, His voice and light in our life, and be quick to listen to others’ hearts as they are looking for love and need to find it in the right place.