Read Proverbs 18:1-24. V13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
For believers, this whole matter of listening starts with our relationship with God. “Be still,” He says, “and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10). We need to master the art of waiting on God, of being quiet in His presence, and of identifying and following the promptings of the Holy Spirit, if we are to learn anything of Him. In the learning process, this is the order to follow: first, we must fill our minds with God’s Word. Then we must pray on the basis of that Word, depending on the Holy Spirit for aid; and what help he gives!
What we listen to is important. Our Lord said, “Take heed what ye hear” (Mark 4:24). This is a noisy, high decibel age. Is it possible, we wonder, in the din and hubbub of everyday living, to choose to hear anything in particular? How can God tell us to be careful what we hear, when our eardrums are constantly being assaulted with all sorts of sounds? The answer lies in our ability to concentrate. Isaiah wrote, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee” (Isa. 26:3). Screening out unwanted sounds is a matter of concentrating on good sounds… God’s sounds. Luke quotes our Lord as saying, “Take heed how ye hear” (Luke 8:18). Our text indicates that listening should involve a thoughtful process of considering the idea before speaking about it. We should listen with understanding (v. 2), without argument (v. 6), without gossip (v. 8), with genuine trust in God (v. 10), and with loving friendliness (v. 24).
You don’t always have to speak up about a matter. Prayerful, loving listening may do more good than a dozen sermons. This devotional was written by Dr. Robert A. Cook. You can subscribe to his free email articles and listen to his Spirit-filled 15-minute messages at www.walkwiththeking.org. Used with written permission.
