The Daily Word

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I want to finish off the week with some comments on the rest of the verse we were looking at yesterday In the book of James. We considered the difference between ‘hearing’ and ‘listening’ yesterday, which sometimes is difficult, particularly if we have something on our minds as we try to listen. But if we think that listening is difficult to achieve, James in his usual hard-hitting advice gives an even deeper insight into our failings with achieving good and worthwhile communication.

If we have to be “quick to listen”, then James advises us to be “Slow to speak and slow to anger”. This strikes at our basic human nature, and something which I have struggled with all my life. We are always quick to respond if we feel we are being put down or even insulted, and before we know it, the words are out of our mouths, often fuelled by a feeling of anger against what has been said against us.

The proverb that we probably chanted to our enemies when we were kids, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but calling does not hurt me”, never comes to us in time and we blurt out words which we later regret bitterly.

The Apostle Paul said, “let your speech be seasoned with grace” and that IS a word we need to take to heart. Anger and recrimination will never achieve anything good. The Lord will help us to be slower to speak, but only if we have a will to do that. Our fellowship with others is precious but it can be fragile. None of us know what the other is truly feeling or passing through and in all seriousness, it is very rare in my experience for someone to be deliberately negative towards us.

If you feel hurt by something that has been said to you, then try counting to 10 in your mind before responding and at the same time, as I should do, ask the Lord for patience and understanding.


Article written by Brian Preston, Elder @SFGH Church 

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