To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Tag: Words Walk Work

Habit #5 – Listen First, Speak Next

Covey’s Habit #5 – Seek First to Understand, then to be Understood
Christian Habit #5 – Listen First, Speak Next

Dr. Covey lists “Seek First to Understand, then to be Understood” as the fifth habit of highly effective people. Likewise as we continue the series on the 7 habits of Highly Effective Christians, the fifth habit is to “Listen First, Speak Next”.

Most of us like to be heard and we pay little attention to what others are saying. We always try to have the final word. We like others to see how eloquent and wise we are. We seldom take time to be quite and listen to the other person. Some of us even complete other people’s statements as we suffer from what I call the “Me, Myself and I” syndrome. Before I point fingers at anyone, I must admit that I am personally guilty of all of the above. It is a struggle for me to be quite when someone is talking. I like to talk and rarely listen. But I have been learning some invaluable truths as the Holy Spirit is teaching me through God’s word.

James counsels us that the tongue needs to be tamed (James 3:2-6). The psalmist tells us that we ought to be still and know that God is God (Psalm 46:10). We are told to not be rash with our mouth, and let not our heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and we upon earth: therefore let our words be few (Ecclesiastes 5:2). Additionally, those in business settings may already know this – “Silence is a powerful weapon when negotiating”. Next time you are in a meeting negotiating, keep silent and see how much power shifts toward you.

We are also told that there is a time to keep silence, and a time to speak (Ecclesiastes 3:7) and when we speak, let us ensure that whatever we speak imparts grace and edifies the hearer (Ephesians 4:29). The words we speak must be in an apt manner (at the right time), carefully chosen (with the right words), with a humble and meek heart (right attitude) as apples of gold in settings of silver (Proverbs 25:11).

Point(s) to ponder:

Ever wonder why we are designed by God to have two ears and one mouth. We must listen twice as much as we speak. But we need not always use words to speak. Remember when Jesus was asked of his opinions to condemn the woman caught in the act of adultery, he spoke volumes without saying a single word.

To be a highly effective Christian, we must seek first to understand and then to be understood. We can do this by listening first and speaking next (with or without words).

Ecclesiastes 5:2 (KJV)
2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

Ephesians 4:29 (KJV)
29
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

www …

In today’s information age, with the prevalence of the internet, one almost instantaneously thinks of the letters “www” as the “World Wide Web”.

But there are other “www”‘s that have been discussed. One that is often quoted to be the downfall of any “man” is the pursuit of Wine, Wealth and Women.
The Bible says, that is not befitting of Kings and Princes to be given to Wine (Proverbs 31:4-5), lest they forget the law and pervert justice. It also counsels that one ought not to give their strength/ways to Women (adulterous) for in the end it leads to destruction (Proverbs 31:3). Jesus states that “no man can serve to masters – God and mammon (wealth)” (Luke 16:13).
While these three ‘w’s have to do with what not to do, I like to look at the positive side of things – three ‘w’s that we ought to do as God’s children (Christians) and that is
Words, Walk and Work

We ought to speak and proclaims the Word of God (Jesus who became flesh) as recorded in John 1:1, the words of God that he wants us to tell this untoward generation (Acts 2:40) whether it is to encourage someone or warn them of God’s justice. Not only are we responsible to speak the words given to us, we ought to also Walk in his ways a.k.a. live a Godly life. Furthermore, it is required of us to not just be mouthpiece priests and pundits, but we must also be laborers (workers) in God’s good earth, following his commands, the greatest of which are “Love God with all our heart, all our soul, all of strength and all our mind” and “Love each other (our neighbors) as we do ourselves”. We must work (do).

Point(s) to Ponder:
What does ‘www’ stand for in your life?

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén