A valuable trait for any of us involves listening. I know some good listeners, those who give attention to the speaker and ask good questions in response. I also know many, many people who never truly listen but merely formulate their opinion—which they interject at the next pause.

James puts it this way: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.

Quick to hear. In every situation, listen carefully, seek to understand, answer slowly and thoughtfully. In this way you’ll promote understanding and the righteousness of God.

I find these challenging words from James, who in the next breath encourages us to be doers of the word, and not hearers only.

Few things prove my doing better than my listening.

James 1 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Beth Macdonald