Our world must be a lonely place, because we use so many telephones to keep in touch. In America there are 311 million people and 330 million cell phones. Russia has 143 million people, but they have over 224 million cell phones! China has over a billion cell phones in use.
Who is using all those phones? And with so much communication, why do we still feel so lonely? Even more importantly, why do we not communicate better?
Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."(Matthew 11:15) That's a way of saying we should work hard to listen and understand what He is telling us. It is His way of telling us to look behind the words we hear to the real meaning of what is said.
We live in a sea of words, and that sea is too often stormy. Politicians spar with words crafted to influence voters. Preachers try to persuade us with new ideas about the Bible. Adults teach the young, and youth tune them out with headphones. We all have ears, but we're not always using them to hear.
Jesus' brother James wrote, "Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger." (James 1:19) Good communication involves both hearing and listening. Most people with good ears can hear, but listening requires discernment, wisdom and the interest to find out what is being said.
Many families suffer from poor listening. Companies have problems when workers are poor listeners. Nations require diplomats to filter words and messages spoken by leaders. Leaders may manipulate people with specially crafted messages.
Jesus wants us to become active listeners. The Rabbi of Nazareth was as good a listener as ever walked the earth. He knows our hearts and hears our cries as we try to listen with ears often plugged by sin.
Do you have good hearing? Do you use your mind to help you listen? Today, try to listen carefully to others and also to yourself, and may God bless your conversations.
Lord, help me listen today to what others say, and help me speak clearly. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment