Everyone should be quick to listen, but slow to speak, and also slow to anger (James 1:19).
How annoying it is when someone interrupts our conversation and as if he already knows what we are going to say, then jumps to conclusions of his own making.
Whether we realize it or not, we often do things like that. We often act smart when we hear what other people have to say. We hear what he says, but we don't really pay attention to what he says. And the result is a misunderstanding!
Recently I sat in front of a husband and wife who were having a heated argument. They threw accusations at each other, hurled it at the same time, and kept cutting each other off. Every word they say makes the misunderstanding like a knife stab deeper and deeper, exacerbating the "wound" in their relationship. It was very difficult for me at that time to call for a ceasefire in the midst of such a war of words.
I can't imagine if Jesus had even been involved in such a rude conversation. People listen to Him, and He listens to them. James, in his letter to the early church, wrote, "Everyone should be quick to listen, but slow to speak, and also slow to anger" (James 1:9). I am sure that he has repeatedly seen this example in Jesus.
Respectful listening enables us to control our anger and appreciate the truth. Let us listen carefully to other people's conversations and avoid jumping to conclusions too quickly -- DJD
WE WILL MAKE MORE FRIENDS
THROUGH THE EAR THAN THROUGH THE MOUTH
* Take from Daily Reflections