3 Characteristics We Must Have

 

 

"...let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath."  -

James 1:19

 

There are three characteristics that should mark a Christian's life -

 

I. Swift To Hear

 

Listen to what some of the ancients had to say about this subject -

"Men have two ears, and but one tongue, that they should hear more than they speak."

"The ears are always open, ever ready to receive instruction, but the tongue is surrounded with a double row of teeth, to hedge it in, and to keep it within proper bounds."

"Be swift to hear, and with deep consideration give answer."

 

Repeatedly, throughout the book of Revelation, the Bible exhorts us - "He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear..."

 

Why should we be "swift to hear"? I suppose so that we may hear God's voice at any time and receive the instructions we need at the present moment. Each moment has new needs, battles, attacks, surprises, traumas, etc. We need to be very quiet and sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit to know ahead of time what to expect or how to react or not react to circumstances out of our control.

 

John 10:27 - The Bible says -  "My sheep hear My voice..." God is speaking, but are we quiet enough to hear Him?

 

II. Slow To Speak

 

The book of Proverbs and the book of James speak alot about the tongue.

For instance, Proverbs 15:2 says - "The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright, but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness."

Many times, the book of Proverbs refers to a talkative person as a fool!

In fact, Proverbs 10:19 says - "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin..."

 

I imagine that we ladies must be very careful with this especially. How displeasing it is to the Lord to have His handmaidens gossiping and slandering over the telephone, in the restaurants, over e-mail, etc. - all in the name of prayer. I have seen more women destroy a move of God in churches simply because they could not control their tongues! How tragic! We need to pray diligently that we would be "slow to speak."

 

Spiros Zodhiates in His Commentary on the Book of James wrote -

 

"It behooves all of us to learn to keep the right balance between the activities of the ears and mouth. Remember that God gave us two ears, but only one mouth, one tongue. There must be a purpose in that. He meant that we should hear more than we speak. When we hear something that is not good, especially about someone else, instead of letting it come out through the mouth, let it go out the other ear. How wonderfully the Lord has given us teeth and lips to keep the tongue in check. Once a young man came to the great philosopher Socrates to be instructed in oratory. The moment the young man was introduced, he began to talk, and there was an incessant stream for some time. When Socrates could get in a word, he said, 'Young man, I will have to charge you a double fee.' 'A double fee, why is that?' The old sage replied, ' I will have to teach you two sciences. First, how to hold your tongue, and then, how to use it.' What an art for all of us to learn, especially Christians."

 

III. Slow To Wrath

 

There is not a more destructive thing that Satan uses against marriages, family relationships, friendships, etc. than anger. It is so deadly and hurtful! Nothing good ever seems to come out of an argument inflamed by anger - only hurtful words and actions.

 

Could this be why the Holy Spirit recorded in Proverbs 16:32 - "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty..."? In other words, a man or woman who is cool-tempered and easygoing - never reacting in anger - is exalted as being "better than the mighty..." It is certainly a godly trait to aspire for, isn't it?

 

Again, Zodhiates' Commentary on James includes a story that is worth noting at this time -

 

        "There is a tradition that Jonathan Edwards, third president of Princeton and one of America's greatest thinkers, had a daughter with an ungovernable temper. But, as is often the case, this infirmity was not known to the outside world. A worthy young man fell in love with her and sought her hand in marriage.
        'You can't have her,' was the abrupt answer of Jonathan Edwards.
        'But I love her,' the young man replied.
        'You can't have her,' said Edwards.
        'But she loves me,' continued the young man.
        Again Edwards said, ' You can't have her.'
        'Why?' asked the young man.
        'Because she is not worthy of you.'
        'But,' he asked, ' she is a Christian, is she not?'
        'Yes, she is a Christian, but the grace of God can live with some people with whom no one else could ever live.' "

(end of story)

 

We are about to start a New Year.

Why don't we use this time beforehand to reflect on these three characteristics and examine where we have succeeded or failed in these particular areas of our walk with the Lord? 
 

 

How about it? Are we "swift to hear"?

Are we a good listener when others speak?

Do we have an ear to hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to us and our family?

 

The opposite of a listening ear would be a dull ear.

Have the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things hardened our hearts and closed our ears to the Calling of God on our lives or to the cries of the poor? 

In conversation, are we more interested in what we have to say rather than in listening to what others are saying? 

 

Are we "slow to speak"? Or do we have a motor mouth - a mouth that is always going and moving?

The Book of Proverbs especially condemns talkativeness for it always leads to trouble of some sort.

 

Do we have a problem with gossip and slander?

Are we always chitter-chattering whereby no one else can get a word in the conversation? 

 

Are we "slow to wrath"?

Or are we like a timed-bomb that is ready to go off at the slightest provocation?

Do we -

...live in our emotions rather than after the Spirit?

...wear our feelings on our sleeves?

...have a major attitude problem?

 

Are we -

...bitter and full of resentment toward others?

...full of pride and consider ourselves above others?

...jealous when we see others blessed before us?

 

Or perhaps we pout for a long time and punish others because they did not let us have our way.

 

Victory is promised to every one walking with Jesus.

If we have failed in the past in any of these areas, God is able to give us the victory and make us the kind of people that He is pleased to call His own.

 

Let's go before the Lord Jesus now at the beginning of a New Year and ask Him to give us more grace to run the race ahead of us.

Let's make a concerted effort to really change in these three areas in our walk with the Lord.

Let's determine that next year, at this time, we will be spiritually stronger and walking victoriously - especially in these three areas designated by the Apostle James.

 

May God bless each of us as we study His Word and apply it to our lives.