Today is only a 2 verse day for me. James is full of such poignant direction and instruction. There is so much to pull from all of these verses. Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak, and Slow to Take Offense are right on target for me these last 2 weeks.
19 Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry. 20 For man’s anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes and requires]. James 1:19-20
One of the things that God has taught in my life is to be an active listener; ready to hear and ‘just be’ when people want to get something out and have someone hear. At work this happens a lot and has provided many an opportunity for me to be a witness of my faith. This especially pays off when the person I am listening to requests my opinion or input on what they have said, although this doesn’t happen most of the time.
Slow to speak is a new tool I am learning, and it is something to wield in many different situations…slow to anger and slow to speak go hand in hand for me. When my anger rises, so does my propensity to speak and at those times when I do speak, it is absolutely NOT with righteousness. With my anger breeds a temptation to sin with my lips and heart and verse 20 clearly states that this is NOT a righteousness that God wishes or desires. Hearing this today renews a conviction I have about letting my anger give birth to sinful speech and a tearing down of grace, mercy, patience, and kindness that I so wish to be a set of attributes that would make me more Christ-Like…right now, I am *not winning*.