Fix It So You Can Flourish: Swift To Hear, Slow To Speak, Slow to Wrath

    Continuing in our new 'Fix It So You Can Flourish' series, let's consider James 1:19-20:

“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, 

slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not 

produce the righteousness of God.” (NKJV)

Swift to Hear 

    We need to teach ourselves to hear. Hearing and really listening involves quietness on our part. Rearrange the letters in SILENT and get the word LISTEN. We hear best when we remain silent with our voice and in our mind. How often have you missed what someone is saying because you’ve been too busy thinking how you’re going to respond and/or refute?

“He who answers a matter before he hears it, 

it is folly and shame to him.” 

(Proverbs 18:13 NKJV)

    We can cause hurt if we speak before or without hearing. We can give rash or harmful advice when we let our emotions have free rein. When we keep our mind calm and our ears open, we can hear what people are really saying. When we calmly listen, we can take time to consider the matter, we can employ wisdom in our response.

“He who has knowledge spares his words, 

and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.” 

(Proverbs 17:27 NKJV)

Slow to Speak

    We all know the harm that can come from speaking before or without thinking. God wants us to be slow to speak; He wants us to be wise.

“In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, 

but he who restrains his lips is wise.” 

(Proverbs 10:19 NKJV)

    When we pause and consider a matter before answering we give ourselves opportunity to discern right from wrong, and we can better determine the right thing to say or do.

Slow to Wrath

    Why does God command this? Read again James 1:20 “for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” When we are wrathful and quick to anger, the possibility of saying or doing something wrong/sinful is very likely.

“He who is slow to wrath has great understanding,

But he who is impulsive exalts folly.” 

(Proverbs 14:29 NKJV)

    When we are slow to wrath we can prove to the world “what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2). When we are slow to wrath, we can keep our emotions in check, we can keep our words in check, and we can keep our actions in check. When we are slow to wrath we become a safe haven instead of a raging storm.

    All of these, swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, take self-control. Only when we control ourselves in obedience to this command can we produce the righteousness of God and bear the fruit of the Spirit:

“...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 

longsuffering, kindness, goodness, 

faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 

Against such there is no law.” 

(Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV)

    Let us have a heart to say, 'If God said it, I believe it, and I will do it.'  As Christians, we are God's children, God wants us to to be pure just as He is pure (1 John 3:1-3). Let us honestly examine ourselves and determine that we will do what God has commanded us so that we can flourish in our faith and service!

You can do it! So can I!!