Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak and Slow to Anger

Jesus’ brother James wrote the letter, bearing his name, to Jewish believers. His letter is one of the oldest letters in the New Testament. He encouraged their growth as followers of the Messiah. James was the leader of the church in Jerusalem until his death at the hands of the Jewish establishment. They gave him the chance to deny his brother Jesus as the Messiah. He refused, and they executed him violently. James’s letter is filled with truths, challenges, encouragements, and direction for believers. Much of what he wrote is as important and relevant now as it was 2,000 years ago. One line of instruction recently caught my attention. “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” James 1:19-20 (NLT) “You must ALL be quick to listen.” James didn’t distinguish between men and women, young and old, mature, or immature. His instruction is straightforward – “You must ALL be quick to listen.” Listen first, talk next if necessary. Since people have two ears and one mouth, it's obvious they were designed to listen more than talk. “You must ALL be slow to speak.” I recently read some “Cowboy Wisdom” that says basically the same thing. "Remember to load your brain before you shoot off your mouth." Too often we are quick to speak and slow to listen, and it gets us in trouble almost every time. “You must ALL be slow to get angry.” This one is challenging. Anger results from a mixture of judgement, fear, disappointment, frustration, and pride. That’s the short list of ingredients when mixed, and left to stew, boil over. “Quick to listen” and “slow to speak” are less complicated than “slow to get angry.” We can control the speed of the first two by sheer willpower. Anger seems to ignite like gas from a slow leak. When enough emotional propane leaks out, just a little spark can ignite it and there is chaos and destruction. James continues, “Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” Rarely, if ever, is human anger productive. Anger may get someone’s attention, but it doesn’t hold it or cause forward progress for long. What would family life be like if people were quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger? How would the relationships between husband and wife, parents and children, and siblings with each other benefit? Wouldn’t you agree if people were quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry, relationships in work, community, and school would flourish? Will you take up the challenge to be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger”? Jesus, help us!