Swift to Hear, Slow to Speak

James 1:19 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”

Do you know someone who just speaks their mind when they probably should be quiet? Maybe someone wants to pretend that they are smart, so when they are asked about something, they answer the first thing that comes to mind, regardless of whether they are truly knowledgeable about to subject or not. Instead of thinking through the question or situation, they are filled up with pride, wanting praise and admiration from others. They want others to think highly of them.

All the time, news companies want to be the first to break a story, so much that when they have just a little bit of information, they go immediately and break the news. Sometimes, because they don’t wait and get all of the information that they need, they report false information, causing great confusion. They want to be first so bad that the first thing that they hear, they immediately put it out there like it is the truth, but if it’s false, they look rather foolish don’t they?

“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” Proverbs 18:13

We need to be swift to hear, but slow to speak. It teaches us in the Bible, that if don’t know or undertand certain questions, to avoid them. If you are going to talk about something that the Bible teaches, make certain that you understand what it means.

“But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.” 2 Timothy 2:23

Think before you speak. Is what I am going to say correct and accurate? Will the thing that I am about to say hurt someone else? As the Bible teaches in Proverbs, a fool will say whatever is in his mind, not caring about the result, but a wise man will wait to speak.

“A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.” Proverbs 29:11

Remember when the Jews wanted to stone the adulterous woman, Jesus didn’t answer them right away. He picked the correct words and convicted them they were sinners too. 

We need to be quick and ready to hear the word of God. The Proberbs are full of verses about hearing instruction.

“Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.” Proverbs 8:33

“Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.” Proverbs 4:1

The next time someone asks you a question or your thoughts about a matter, think before you speak. Make certain that what you are about to say is truthful. Be quick to listen and hear instruction.

“Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.” Ecclesiastes 5:2

In Christ,

Andrew