If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. – 1 Corinthians 13:1
The rapidly developing technology of the digital age has changed communication. You might have seen the family dining out together, with each person busily texting someone else on their phones rather than joining in verbal exchanges with one another. In her book The Art of Conversation, author Catherine Blyth addresses the lost skill of just talking with one another. The goal of conversation is to understand and be understood. The issue today is that many people have forgotten they have one mouth and two ears, and that kindness goes a long way. Paul reminds you to let your words be gracious (Colossians 4:6), building up one another in love (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Listening may be is easy, but really hearing what someone is communicating can be difficult. James 1:19 says, “Let every person be quick to hear.” True hearing is a love gift you give to the other person. Learning to listen to understand requires effort, being intentional and focused. In Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book Life Together, he calls listening a ministry. He says not to listen with half an ear, waiting to jump in with your own comments. “Just as love to God begins with listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is learning to listen to them,” Bonhoeffer wrote, adding, “Listening can be a greater service than speaking.”
Enjoy conversation with family and friends. Listen with attention. Likewise, read and hear to understand the words of the Lord. Enter into prayer and bring your praises and needs to Him. Pray for Christian ministers and counselors to balance real listening with their advising.
Today’s Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:1
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: James 1:19-25
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
