Swift to Hear

  So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; (James 1:19 NKJV)

The tongue is a powerful tool. The Bible tells us that life and death are in the power of tongue. James tells us that the tongue is like a rudder of a ship having the ability to steer even the largest of ships: Jam 3:4,5 "Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!"
As much power is in the tongue, I believe our ears boast as much if not more power than our tongue. When I refer to our ears I refer to our ability to hear ( to comprehend, to understand-Strong's G191 - akouō). An art lost in a generation that always has something to say. While speaking what is on our mind is important it should be secondary to hearing. By taking the time to hear what others are saying we are establishing the importance of  fully understanding where their coming from. We are saying that what they have to say is important and we are going to show them respect by giving them our attention. This is something that has been lost in the age we live in. You can hardly talk to someone now days without them pulling out their phone to text or surf the Internet.

There is a reason why God tells us to be swift to hear and slow to speak. How many times in our lives have we got into arguments because we never allowed the person we were talking with to fully explain their point. We were so busy focusing on what we wanted to say that we cut them off or we didn't give them our full attention. I also believe that just as this scripture says that as we focus on hearing others and not so much on what we want to say it will cause us to not get as angry. We will be slow to wrath (movement or agitation of the soul, impulse, desire, any violent emotion, but esp. anger- Strong's G3709 - orgē).

Listening helps us to fully understand, which than helps us to be slow to wrath: Pro 14:29 "[He who is] slow to wrath has great understanding, But [he who is] impulsive exalts folly."
This is what exactly happens when we don't take the time to hear what others are saying. Because we don't hear them we act impulsively which leads to all kinds of problems. Remember to take the time to listen to those in your life. It will save you from acting impulsively which keeps you from saying things you don't really mean.

Be Blessed!!