The art of listening, and it is an art, is dying. Now that’s a bold statement and, if true, frightening. Today’s proverb is found in verse 13, “Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.” Finding someone who truly listens can be hard. There are certain professions where the art of listening is key, such as doctors, lawyers, reporters, coaches, just to name a few. For them to be productive and successful in their jobs, they need to listen and understand those with whom they are interacting.
So often, people are either in a rush or too worried about their own problems to be totally present with another human. How do I know? Because I have been guilty of this. Listening is something I have to work on every day. I have to control my mind and tell it to slow down. So many things are rushing through my head, including things I could say or inject into the conversation. If I don’t blurt it out, how will I remember it when they give me a chance to speak?
Continue reading “Proverbs 18:1-13 – Listen Up!”
We all have parents. Some of us are still able to honor them. Some of us are parents and know what it feels like to be honored. The reminder here is a good one. This is the first commandment with a promise. It wasn’t just an expectation from God, there was a reward attached. Do this and get that. When we honor our parents, we are promised a long life, and that things will go well for us.
