This is a struggle.

Being slow to speak and quick to listen has always been a struggle for me. In the quiet of the morning, after prayer and devotion, and deep reflection, I am resolute that today will be a better day. I will speak less and listen more!

Alas, I rarely make it to lunch without breaking my commitment. It is a serious struggle that I battle with each and every day.

It’s not that I don’t know what I am supposed to do. It’s clearly laid out in the book of James, chapter 1.

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” (1:19-21)

This is so important, but so hard to remember!

As an extrovert, I have to really try to “be quick to listen, slow to speak“. Perhaps you’re an extrovert as well, and can relate? We spend so much time giving our opinions or telling some story that we think people need to hear. We often miss so many important pieces of information from the people we’re interacting with.

I remember once in Bible College having been convicted of this concept, I chose to spend a regular 24 hour day in complete silence. The goal was to spend all my speech internally toward God and then focus on listening to the people around me.

Being in Bible College at the time, definitely made it easier than being in the regular world. People understood the oddity of my commitment and were in turn, respectful. This also allowed me to embrace this covenant of silence without having to dive into complete solitude as well.

A second note on this passage.

Notice how there is a connection between speaking often, and being easily angered. Why is that? I know I’ve felt it, but why?

Again, speaking to my fellow extroverts, we can totally relate! We are generally not the first to be “slow to become angry” are we? When we’re feeling joy, it’s really joyful! But in the same way, when we’re angry, we’re going to make sure everyone knows it.

Our emotions seem to always have extremes. We have to really try to keep our cool! I get it; this stuff is tough to admit! Because it’s so deeply knit into our identity, and perhaps tripping us up in a way that we’re trying to find our value in our persona.

Like I said from the start; it’s a struggle! And the struggle is real.

Do you want the prescription?

As we desire to correct these two things, thankfully, James tells us clearly where the prescription to our ailment lies.

“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.“

As always, within our relationship with God, and with each other, it all comes down to humility.

• Humble enough to know we can’t start the day without some devotion to the Word.
• Humble enough to know that we need to continue to make commitments and strive to fulfill them, even though we know we might fail.
• Humble enough to lay down our self-focused identity, and place all of our value and worth in Christ alone.

You never know; we might just make it past lunch? Might even make it the whole day?