I have noticed that many people are more interested in speaking rather than being heard. They just want the attention and the ability to be the center of focus for their listening audience. Whether or not they are understood, they just want to speak their words.
It seems that we are in a rush in every part of our lives. We are pushed to produce on the job. Our kids’ many activities cause us to hurry from one place to another and rely on fast foods for meals. We get frustrated in traffic because it is not moving fast enough to meet our needs.
All this speaking and rushing is contrary to God’s plan for our lives. James 1:19-20 says, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” While the world pushes us to hurry up, God wants us to wait upon Him. We cannot produce the fruit of righteousness without God’s help and power. While our inclination is to speak first, God wants us to have a posture of listening first. We cannot obtain wisdom if we are only spouting what we think or know. Let’s slow down to listen to God and others, while waiting to receive wisdom and power from God.
Reluctant Retiree 