What needs to be fixed? Our tendency not to listen.

One morning when my boys were small they were out in the driveway before we left for school. They were playing a game with a baseball bat and what looked to me like a rock. One was pitching while the other would swing at it. Each swing raised the potential of a rock heading toward the house. I had told them before not to throw or hit rocks around the house. So, when I saw what they were doing, I grabbed the bat out of one of their hands and raised my voice in disappointment. I quickly shut objections down with my “don’t throw rocks” speech.

Silence reigned all the way to school. Finally, as we rounded the corner to enter the school parking lot, my older son said, “Dad, that thing we were hitting was a wad of paper.” I said, “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” He replied, “Dad, when you get that look in your eye and the vein bulges in your neck, we can’t tell you anything.”

Has anything like that ever happened to you? Did you ever jump to conclusions before hearing the whole story? Not listening is a major problem in many relationships. If we don’t actively listen to what someone is trying to tell us, we will miss the truth.

In his Word, God gives us a tool for unity. It’s called being quick to listen. Do you know where to find it? It’s found in the letter written by Jesus’ brother, James. He had seen his brother listen well to many people. James knew that it was a key to all close relationships. Read the passages below and answer the following questions to increase your listening skills.