Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak, Slow to Anger!

Humans love to hear the sound of our own voices. That is why we talk so much! Often, we speak when we should be listening, not giving others a chance to contribute to the conversation. Furthermore, when we speak in anger, we tend to say things that we later regret. The German side of my family jokes about their “Yount temper,” while my Scottish side laughs about their “Nipper temper.” But regardless of our family roots, speaking out of turn because of anger is an issue with which we all must deal.

Many scholars agree that the Epistle of James is the first New Testament book to have been written. The epistle is full of practical instruction regarding day-to-day living and godly conduct. Consider the following verses:

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. (James 1:19-20)

1. We should be quick to listen

When we have conflict with somebody, it is easy to be slow to listen and quick to speak, but the Bible directs us to be quick to hear and slow to speak. Often conflict arises because we do not listen as we should.

2. We should be slow to speak

 

The rabbis referred to the “third tongue,” for it slays three persons–the speaker, the spoken to, and the spoken of. The old saying “think before you speak” is applicable to Christians because every time we say something, we represent Jesus Christ!

The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; the one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin (Proverbs 13:3).

3. We should be slow to anger

Anger is not necessarily a sin because Paul teaches: Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger (Ephesians 4:26). We must, however, be careful how we respond when we are angry. When God instructed Moses to speak to a rock from which He purposed to bring forth water for the thirsty sons of Israel, Moses struck the rock twice because he was furious with the people (Numbers 20:11-12). For this one moment of anger, God barred Moses from entering the Promised Land. Things that we do in anger can affect us for the rest of our lives, so we must be slow to anger and remember our Christian testimony.

The words that James wrote almost two thousand years ago are as up-to-date as tomorrow’s newspaper and applicable to every believer. May we inscribe the words of James 1:19-20 on our hearts and be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger!