James 1:19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.
James is giving us some great advice here in this verse. Advice that I have always struggled with. I hear you guys out there, “Yes, Jim you have it backwards, you think it says be quick to speak and slow to listen.” You would be correct! I have had several people tell me I need to think before I speak. Pastor Vance has informed me of this fault many times. They also tell me, “if it does not uplift and edify the person, then you should keep it to yourself! I love to talk. I love to make people laugh. I was the “biggest wit” in my Senior yearbook.
Sometimes it caused me to get five swats with the paddle in high school. What the students and I thought was funny, apparently was not funny to the teacher. Some people just do not know when to shut their pie hole!
God gave us two ears to listen and one mouth to speak. I have friends that the only way I can talk to them is if I interrupt them as they are speaking. Their tongue is going nonstop! Our son Jason was that way. When he called us from California, all we could do was listen. We wanted to speak but we could not get a word in edgeways. Today I would give almost anything to hear his voice again.
Some of the smartest people I know seldom speak. But, when they do speak after listening, oh my, I listen to some awesome advice. When we are quick to speak, we get ourselves in trouble because we have not thought about the ramifications of what we are about to say. James is educating us to be careful with that two-edged sword in our mouth. It can cut someone down in seconds or build someone up in seconds. It can destroy a person or compliment a person. It can sing praises to God at church or in your car and it can tear a person to pieces if they make your Subway sandwich wrong only moments after leaving church!
James 1:26 ESV If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
This verse emphasizes the importance of controlling our speech and the impact it has on our character and faith. We can destroy our witness in seconds with an unbridled tongue. I have done it and more than likely will do it again.
Most human beings are starving for someone to give them affirmation. They are doing their best, but they feel as though no one cares. I want to encourage each of you to look for the good in everyone. Take your focus off the bad. Find someone everyday and compliment them in some way or another. Make it a daily goal to uplift at least one person a day with a positive encouraging word. God will be pleased with your words and actions.
Jim Everett
