Proverbs 13:1-3
As children, many of us used to hear our teachers in school tell us “Be quiet, watch, and listen. You were made with two ears, two eyes, and only one mouth for a reason”. I never quite understood the significance of that statement until I entered into my first relationship. I learned very quickly how difficult it could be to be in constant relationship with somebody that wasn’t my parents, best friend, or sibling. I quickly realized how difficult communication and conflict could be when I was only trying to only get my point across, be heard, and share my own point of view. It was very seldom to me that anybody else’s opinion was as important, or as “true and factual” as mine was (whether that be true or not). Those discussions never led to a happy ending, and only led to hurt, offence, and misunderstanding. I was quick to speak, slow to listen, and slow to understand.
So much of not only the book of proverbs, but the entirety of the Bible speaks heavily on our words, and the importance of listening before speaking. So many of todays debates, arguments, and discussions are not to hear and understand, but rather to merely get their own point across. 1 Timothy says not to waste our time over foolish arguments and ideas and instead feed our spirits with truth and life. Many Christians today have lost their sense of compassion, and instead of sitting down with the poor to feed them, and listening to the hurt and pain, we tend to only have our own agenda in mind, to get our message to be heard at the cost of anyone’s feelings. Yet it is the kindness of Christ that leads to repentance, so instead of telling them all the things they may need to change in their lives, lets sit with the broken, and hear their struggles, let our hearts break with theirs, and speak only in the context of love and compassion.