ODJ: listen first
Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish (v.13).
READ: Proverbs 18:12-21
Former US President Franklin Roosevelt was not a fan of the long receiving lines he often endured at the White House. He complained that no one really paid any attention to what was said during the greet-fests. One day, he decided to try an experiment. To each person who came through the line to shake his hand, he murmured, “I murdered my grandmother this morning.” The guests responded with phrases like, “Marvelous!” “Keep up the good work.” “God bless you, sir.”
Franklin Roosevelt’s experiment was successful in proving his theory. It also underscored a sad reality: We often don’t listen well.
Proverbs 18:13 warns that “spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.” Why? Because “the tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences” (v.21). For example—
• Words can crush the spirit. And a crushed spirit is more unbearable than a sick body (v.14).
• Words can separate friends. And an offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city (v.19).
Fortunately, the opposite is also true. Listen to these thoughts from Proverbs:
• We must listen to facts. Learn with a discerning ear and ferret out the facts (v.13).
• We must listen with open ears. Don’t allow certain words and phrases to prejudice you from listening objectively. And don’t avoid listening to things that you may feel are too difficult to understand (v.15).
• We must listen to both sides of a dispute. It’s foolish to jump to conclusions and rush to judgment; the wise take time to discern (v.17).
Take the time to truly listen to others today. —Poh Fang Chia
What words and phrases prevent you from listening objectively to others? What will it take for you to become a better listener to God and them?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading ...ODB: heaven on earth?
November 22, 2009
READ: Ecclesiastes 2:15-26
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. —Colossians 3:2
The Singapore developer of an extravagant condominium advertised its new project as, “Rediscover Heaven on Earth.” I suppose it meant to convey to prospective buyers that their purchase would be so luxurious that it would be like living in heaven while here on earth.
Solomon, the writer of Ecclesiastes, was an extremely wealthy man (Eccl. 1:12). He tried to find heaven on earth and had the means to live as luxuriously as he could wish (2:1-10). Yet he wasn’t satisfied. So disillusioned was he with life, he described it with just one word—“vanity” (or “meaningless”). And he repeated the word eight times in chapter two alone. As long as he looked only at life “under the sun” (2:18), he felt hollow and dissatisfied. All of his striving was ultimately futile. There would come a day when he would have to relinquish his possessions and leave them to someone else (v.18).
If you are a Christian, you can look to Christ’s promise of a heavenly home He has gone to prepare (John 14:2). That’s why Paul advised those who are enjoying what God has given: “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2). Don’t try to find heaven on earth. You won’t—no matter how hard you look! — C. P. Hia
Those who have their hearts fixed on heaven will hold loosely the things of earth.
(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5) Loading ...
Latest Comments