Sermonette: "The Fruit of Listening"

Have you ever walked away from a conversation with someone and thought, “Wow, that was a great conversation”? Thinking back on that conversation, it was probably a good conversation because they listened and you had the opportunity to express what was really on your heart. When we have the opportunity to truly express what’s on our hearts and minds— we feel valued!

In James 1:19-20 it reads, “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” Now the order to this verse is critical. Being quick to listen and slow to speak helps build a positive culture. Being quick to speak and slow to listen is detrimental for any environment. The order matters. It matters in your life, your workplace, your place of worship, etc.

Think about this for a second: Everything you think makes sense to you. Everything you say makes sense to you. Everything you believe makes sense to you. Now think about this: Everything everyone thinks makes sense to them. Everything everyone says makes sense to them. Everything everyone believes makes sense to them. Because these statements are true, you can now see why there would be breakdown when we choose to speak first and not listen.

Here is the truth of the matter, if we are quick to speak and slow to listen; it will lead to saying and doing things we’ll eventually regret. It is possible to be completely right but handle it in an unrighteous way. Rightness handled in an unrighteous way is toxic to your culture. At the end of the day, God is more concerned about your righteousness than your rightness. Today, choose to listen first and then speak,if it is even necessary.