Communication

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by Brother Carlton

05/30/23
Not For Sale
Author requests article critique

It should go without saying that if you wish to learn more you need to listen more.

One of my problems over the years, and it might be yours as well, has been listening.

Speaking for me is much easier but it is by listening that we learn. We don't learn when we are speaking. Others might but we do not.

To learn we must close our mouths for a given time and soak in the wisdom from profitable sources and really hear what is being said with a desire to first understand and then discover how to apply this wisdom to our lives.

We read in James 1:19 "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

The idea is to let our ears be quick, rapid, and instant to hear.

When we hear I do not mean we should be swift or quick to hear things like gossip or lies but rather such things as the truth, a good report and other encouraging words as Philippians 4:8-9 instructs us.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

verse 9: Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Notice Paul says those things which you have both learned and received and heard.

When we read God's word, the Bible, or anything true and honest we are demonstrating our willingness and desire to learn things that will benefit us and help us grow.

It is our duty to hear God's word, and apply our minds to understand it, than to speak according to our own vain imaginings or the opinions of men.

The world is full of opinions, isn't it? Not many are wise and good seeing these opinions often come from people who do not know God.

As the blessed Matthew Henry (1662- 1714) has said: "It is also our duty rather to hear how God explains his providences, and what he designs by them under our trials, let us open our ears and hearts to hear what he will say to us.

When matters of difference arise among Christians, each side should be willing to hear the other.

It is easy to be opinionated and to value our own thoughts more highly than we should because we are not willing to hear what others have to say about them.

Instead let us be swift to hear reason and truth on all sides, and be slow to speak anything that should prevent this.

I would imagine most people want to be successful don't you think?

So ask yourself this question: What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

Do you think you might read the books, take the classes and learn the skills required?

All these things involve hearing.

Even in the silence of your bedroom or library when you read a book you are hearing what the author is writing.

Nothing happens by chance.

For every outcome or result there is a cause.

Over my many years, I've discovered that those who attend conferences, seminars, workshops or who read voraciously demonstrate, at least outwardly, a desire to learn.

Learning causes us to examine our present store of knowledge and see if it is congruent with what we think we know. Perhaps we need to discard the false concepts passed on to us from childhood or high school or college.

Maybe our religious beliefs need re-examing.

People seem to want to know God's will and yet many are not willing to do what they already know what they should be doing.

I am sure God doesn't look favorably on that idea.

Instead of listening to good sermons and reading more of the Bible and other great books of wisdom they prefer to waste their lives watching mindless and worldly entertainment in the form of sports or TV.

Count how many hours you've wasted watching TV over your lifetime.

I am sure God doesn't look favorably on that idea.

We must pray for understanding and that the Holy Spirit would teach us the meaning of the text under consideration.

Imagine the disciples gathering around our Lord Jesus Christ as he spoke to them about things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

He, as the Master teacher, asked them questions that caused them to think before they responded.

On many occasions to emphasize the importance of his words or statement Jesus would add "Verily, Verily" that is to say "Truly, Truly".

Or he might say "Take heed"

They heard many of Jesus's teachings but they did not always understand what Jesus meant.

Scripture says in James 1:19 be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath."

It is not without reason that the Lord created humans with two ears and one mouth.

We should spend more time listening than speaking.

God placed an ear on each side of our head so we can catch sounds from all four directions.

In the animal world, you'll notice dogs, cats, and various monkeys turning their heads in the direction of various sounds to determine and better focus their attention on a new or strange sound.

When humans speak they usually look at the person or audience to whom they are speaking if they are polite.

A rude or thoughtless person might be in the habit of speaking to a person without eye contact. I don't advise that. Good manners generally dictate direct eye contact when you

speak to somebody.

Imagine the President of the United States giving a speech to the nation while looking

off to the side. That would be weird and inappropriate don't you think?

We may catch ourselves yelling at someone in another room where eye contact is impossible and this again is rude if habitual.

Instead, we ought to go to the person we wish to communicate with and give courteous attention using our mouth as a channel of truth and instruction while looking into the eyes of the person to whom we are speaking.

Following the command by James to be swift to hear will go a long way in improving our verbal communication and building us up in the most holy faith of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Brother Carlton ministers the gospel to the Los Angeles area. Formerly a Hollywood actor (SAG member) and junk removal expert, he now spends most of his time studying the scriptures, writing articles, hymns, and poems, and doing street preaching. See all his videos on YouTube brother Carlton.

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