There are many powerful truths conveyed in the above passage. Let`s consider how priceless it can be when we are "swift to hear, and slow to speak." I pray you add these spiritual tools to your repertoire. In Jesus name.
For those who are called to help others, be it ministry, coaching, counseling, mentoring, etc... it is extremely significant to develop "listening skills". Listening in order to be helpful requires much more than the capacity to hear with your ears. Almost everyone sincerely believes that he or she listens effectively. Since this is true, guess what? Most don`t think they need to develop better listening skills. Get this: research shows that the average person listens at only 25% efficiency.
Furthermore, if the truth be told many of us are so thirsty, so eager to give good advise or perhaps provide insightful counsel, that its easy to get caught-up into listening to oneself responding to the person`s issues. When what we should be doing is giving the hurting person an opportunity to tell us. Our goal as a helper sent by God is to prayerfully listen so they can tell us what they need to tell us.
Let`s go deeper. Satan knows that listening is rarely taught. Most think it`s automatic. Not so, you see, hearing and listening are two very distinctive activities. Hearing is taking information in. Listening is actively trying to understand and retaining the information your receiving. Job 32:11 "I waited while you spoke, I listened to you reasoning, while you were searching for words, I gave you my full attention."
When in ministry or counsel, if we are not wift to listen, its very easy (before the hurting person can even get enough out) to start trying to demonstrate what we know about their struggle. The evil one loves when we humans go astray in such cases. In all thy getting , get understanding. Amen
