>>>
James 1:19 - Are You Listening?

James 1:19 (NIV) My dear brothers and 
sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick 
to listen, slow to speak and slow to become 
angry,  

James 1:19 (NLT) Understand this, my dear 
brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to 
listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.  

James 1:19 (MSG) Post this at all the 
intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up 
with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in 
the rear.  

COMMENTARY PEARL

   How often have you heard someone say, 
Are you listening to me? 
   Lets be honest: in a culture awash in 
cell phones, social media, and other addictive 
technologies, were losing the fine art of listening. 
   I dont mean just hearing. Not simply 
smiling and nodding while somebodys mouth is 
moving. Not merely staying quiet until its 
your turn to chime in. All of us are good at 
that game. 
   Heres how James puts it in his letter: 
My dear brothers and sisters: You must all be 
quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get 
angry (James 1:19). 
   Children suffer most when we dont 
listen as they struggle to express their feelings. 
Deep down in their fragile, inner wells are a 
multitude of needs, questions, hurts, and longings. 
The busy, insensitive, preoccupied parent, 
steamrolling through the day, misses many a cue and sails 
right past choice moments that may never be 
repeated. 
   Or how about people we encounter who 
dont know Christ? Heres a question youve 
never been asked: Have you ever practiced 
listening evangelism? Unless were thoughtful, we 
usually unload the goods and go for the scalp. But 
people bruise easily. Sometimes irreparably. 
Everyone appreciates when we genuinely listen to 
their stories. Thats what Jesus did any time He 
encountered someone in need. Like the Samaritan woman 
who had come to the well for water. After 
listening carefully to her responses and discerning 
her need, Jesus tenderly replied, If you only 
knew the gift God has for you and who you are 
speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you 
living water (John 4:10). 
   Listening allows us to see deeper into 
anothers heart. Only then can we offer the help and 
hope they need. 
   Solomon said it best when he wrote about 
having ears to hear and eyes to see. He then 
added this reassurance: both are gifts from the 
LORD (Proverbs 20:12). 
   Two ears. Two eyes. Only one mouth. Maybe 
that should tell us something. I challenge you to 
join me in becoming a better listener. With your 
spouse. Your friends. Your kids. Your boss. Your 
teacher. Your pupils. Your neighbors. 
   The better we listen, the more God can 
speak through us. [Chuck Swindoll 
www.insight.org.] 

LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE

James 1:19 - Be Quick to Listen and Slow to 
Speak. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20191103-1032.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

Steps to Peace by Billy Graham: 
https://stepstopeace.org/ 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

Importance of Choice: 
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]  

Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David 
DeRose, MD, MPH: 
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: 
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides: 
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2 

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The 
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE 

Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of 
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible 

Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor: 
https://www.revelationnow.com/ 

Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW: 
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657