So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

James 1:19-20

        The act of hearing is critical for our relationship with God. The Bible is constantly pointing us to the need to hear. Jesus often said “he who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Matt. 11:15). In Romans, Paul even teaches us that faith itself comes from “hearing” the Word of God (10:17). The word “hear” is used almost 500 times in Scripture to refer to the spiritual exercise of listening to God.

        This kind of “hearing” is not simply physical. It is a spiritual act of understanding and then responding to the Word of God. However, even a deaf person can “hear” the word of God perfectly well because to “hear” is to recognize the voice of God in His Word, and then do as He says.

        Newborns and young children have hearing checks to ensure they can hear and interpret sound. Biblically speaking, however, a child old enough to obey may have perfect hearing, but still not “hear.” The real proof a child has truly “heard” his parents’ commands is that he obeys with a good attitude. Physical hearing that leads to obedience and a desire to please one’s parents displays true “hearing.”

        In the same way, I can hear the Word of my heavenly Father and fully understand it, but not respond with humble obedience. When this happens, I am not seeking to please my Father. I heard (understood), but by ignoring or refusing to obey, I have not truly “heard.”

        This refusal to hear God is sin. And sin always leads to consequences. Failure to hear the Lord will result in His chastening, or worse, death. This is why we must be quick to hear—quick to respond to God and His Word. That happens best when we are “slow to speak.”

        There’s a story of a young man approaching the great Socrates and asking if he would teach him to speak publicly. After several minutes of non-stop chatter, Socrates placed his hand over the young man’s mouth and said, ‘I will gladly teach you, but I must charge you double because I will have to teach you two skills: one, how to hold your tongue; and two, how to use it.’

        Proverbs 10:19 says “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.” The restraining of our lips (holding our tongue) is also critical for genuine “hearing.” Not only so we can understand the will of God, and the needs or wishes of others, but also to keep us from sin.

        One way we sin in our speech is to lash out at someone with harsh, hurtful words. This is why we must be “slow to wrath.” A quick temper is a serious character flaw that reveals a hard heart that is not hearing God. Such anger can “not produce the righteousness of God.” Angrily defending ourselves or verbally attacking others never produces righteousness. It only produces more conflict and sin.

 

        How is your hearing? Are you listening to God and obeying from the heart? And how is your attitude? Are you quick to become angry and speak harshly with those who irritate you, or are you producing the righteousness of God with your words and actions?