One thing you can never prepare yourself for as a parent is how much you will repeat yourself to your children. My kids will ask me a question, and I will answer only to have them ask the same exact question a few minutes later. Then I get in trouble for getting upset at having to repeat myself so many times. All of us need to practice being quick to listen.
James 1:19-20
My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.
Slow to Speak
James is the most practical person in the Bible. That makes sense being that he is the pastor of the church in Jerusalem. The primary point he is trying to get across is that we need to be slow to speak and slow to anger but quick to listen. With a group of opinionated people who have just come out of living by the Law, you can imagine how tempers would flare, and people would be talking so much they never stopped to listen to anyone else.
Slow to Anger
We would be smart to heed James’ words. Too many people walk around in a constant funk because they are angry all of the time. Part of the reason for that is that they talk too much. If they would stop and be quick to listen, a good portion of their anger would subside. The world would be a better place if people talked less and listened more. We wouldn’t jump to conclusions or offend people by our tongue.
Quick to Listen
Anger is a problem many people struggle with. It is next to impossible to be angry and still be righteous. Paul did tell us not to sin on our anger, but that rarely happens. What makes it even worse is that there are walking volcanos waiting to erupt with an unsuspecting person crosses them the wrong way. Let’s strive to be quick to listen and watch as our temper becomes tamed.