Considerations

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak… (James 1:19 NIV)

Quick to listen. Slow to speak. I’m often guilty of being ready to say my two thoughts before a person is finished talking. Sometimes I don’t even let them finish before I’m jumping in to give my opinion! I’m a work in progress as I seek with the Spirit’s help to become quicker to listen and slower to speak. For I desire to not only take the time to listen but to actually hear what others are saying.

Listening vs. Hearing

Listening and hearing are not necessarily the same action. I can listen to music but not hear the meaning in the lyrics. I can listen to a joke and not hear what makes it funny. A student can listen to a teacher and not hear what the teacher is saying; they are unable to grasp or understand the content being shared. Listening can be viewed as more of the surface action before one hears. Hearing can be taking what one is listening to and allowing time to think about it and hear the deeper meaning of what is being conveyed.

In James 1:22-25, we are encouraged to “not merely listen to the word” but to look “intently into the perfect law that gives freedom”. Why? To prevent us from only reading it on the surface and to instead take the time to digest the word, consider it and then incorporate what we hear into our lives. Not just listening but looking intently into the Scriptures and doing what it says, is a great way to start the new year!

Listening Intently To Hear

I also want to encourage us to listen and hear others this new year. It’s so easy to greet people with a ‘Hi! How are you?’ without stopping to hear their answer to the very question we posed. We live in such a fast paced world that we need to intentionally slow it down when it comes to our interactions with others. As I mentioned in the beginning, I have a problem with listening to others; that is listening with the intent to hear them. Along with the verse from James encouraging me to be quick to listen and slow to speak, the quote below reminds me of the importance of taking the time to hear others.

This past year, through a variety of interactions with others, I have come to realize how important it is to stop and listen with the intent to hear others. Not listening and shaping my response as they talk. But to internalize what they are saying and to hear even beyond their actual words. To listen and hear not only with my ears but also with my eyes. To not allow myself to be distracted by my cell phone, TV, laptop, or any other thing or person. Because if I am, I miss out on what they are not saying in words through their body language, their facial expressions and their overall demeanor. I also miss out on showing them how much I value them by not giving my full attention. 

Hearing: a step of caring for others

Life is hard and for some it’s even harder. Life was not meant to be lived in isolation. However there are many around us who feel alone and need to know they are valued, loved and heard. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 speaks of the benefit of having another alongside you especially in the challenging times:

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NLT)

As we navigate 2025, let’s take the time to not only see others but to intentionally stop, listen and hear them. Let’s make room in our schedules to show others that we care for them and they are worth taking time for in our lives. Let’s put away the distractions that keep us from being fully present when we are with others. 

Everyday we have the opportunity to be Jesus’ hands and feet in our broken world. He expects us to be that as His followers (See Matthew 25:31-46).There are many crying out for help in our community, our families, our churches, our neighbourhoods and our workplaces. But if we are too busy to hear their cries, we miss out on being the help they need and Christ’s ambassadors at the same time.