Grief

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

“God blesses those people who grieve. They will find comfort!”     Matthew 5:4 (CEV)

If you have experienced the death of someone you love, lost your job, been divorced, or lived through a fire, hurricane, tornado, or other natural disaster, then you know grief. Walking through grief is the hardest work I have ever done. To know that God will put His hand of divine care upon me to help me in this grief work is one of the best promises He has ever made to me.

How will God help me?

First, God is always there. He is always willing to listen to me. I have even visualized Him sitting across from me and told Him everything that I was feeling and thinking. I unloaded on Him! His shoulders are big enough to take the load! My son died from cancer less than a week after Hurricane Ivan swept through our town. Our family had “above and beyond” support during his illness and death. After the funeral, people had so much to do in their own lives with the devastation of the hurricane. I felt alone. I wanted to talk about my son; the memories that I didn’t want to forget. Yes, there are support groups but I didn’t have the energy to go to support groups. Jesus was right there, 24/7.

Second, God has so much to share with me to encourage and strengthen me. Not platitudes. Good sound truths. He speaks to me through His Word in the Bible and in music and in my fellowship. It is so important that whatever energy I have, to use some of it to keep my connection to the Body of Believers. And when someone I know is grieving, I need to be willing to pick them up and take them to worship, doing what I can so they stay connected.

And third, Jesus promised me His Comforter. His Spirit will heal and give me peace and, yes, even answers, in ways that I do not have words here to clearly describe. He just does it! If you want to be healed (John 5:5-6). It is so easy to hang on to grief. I hang on because I’m afraid that if I stop grieving and find the joy in my life – then my loved one will be forgotten or my pain will be forgotten or whoever hurt me will be “off the hook”. Here’s the truths I have learned about that: I will never forget – unless I want to. And God will never forget. It is OK to let go of my grief. It is a healthy thing.

When David and his men came to Ziklag, they saw the burned-out ruins and learned that their families had been taken captive. They started crying and kept it up until they were too weak to cry any more.      1 Samuel 30:3-4 (CEV)

The person in the Bible that is described by Samuel the prophet (1 Samuel 13:14) and Paul the apostle (Acts 13:22) as the one who was after God’s heart wept until he had no more strength. Grief is a natural part of this life and an emotion that will be a part of my life until I join Jesus and there will be no more death or crying (Revelation 21:4) ever again. I look forward to that day. Until then, I will spend time every day with the One who has His hand on me and wants to comfort me.

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Poor in Spirit

Posted on January 14, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 5:1-3 (WEB)

I have never been to Israel but if I ever went, the mountain is one of the places I would want to go. It is my idea of heaven…sitting on a mountainside, listening to Jesus. Tradition tells me that teachers of the day taught from a sitting position. They did not pace in front of their students or stand behind a podium in a position of dominance. They sat down and spoke.

Luke tells us in his gospel (Luke 4:18) that Jesus came out of the desert, went to the synagogue and gave His first teaching from Isaiah, proclaiming that He came to preach the good news to the poor. Here we have Matthew reporting Jesus’ first teaching and that the first group that will be blessed are those who are poor in spirit. What does that mean? What does it mean to lack or be in need in your spirit?

I think when Jesus sat down and looked out over this crowd, He saw the salt of the earth. He did not see any kings. He did not see soldiers. I bet if there were any Scribes and Pharisees there – they would have been standing in the back (with their arms folded!). Those that were seated and waiting with expectation were at the end of their rope. They had little in earthly possessions. They had been taught that only those in favor with God were blessed with great wealth. Perfect offerings in the temple cost money! These people truly were in doubt about their relationship with God because of their station in life. They truly were like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36).

Jesus is stating that these people are the very ones for whom God is building a kingdom. He is tell them that “down is up”! (By the way, I suspect the Scribes and Pharisees were hearing that “up is down”!) Jesus has proclaimed Hope in this promise.

“Poor in spirit” is a malady in our 21st century to be avoided. Even if you have very little in the natural, the world tells us that we are important. The need of the individual always outweighs the need of the many. I am encouraged to align myself with an identifiable group and proclaim my status. P-R-I-D-E.

Jesus shows me how to surrender. He shows me how to be obedient, even to death on a cross. Jesus shows me how to be a servant. If I want to be great in God’s Kingdom then I need to put on my apron and start washing some feet.

Jesus proclaims this blessing when I know that I am nothing and God is everything. When I am poor, Jesus proclaims me to be rich. I have had times in my life when I listened to what others thought or judged me to be. I have listened to that nasty, sneaky voice in my head that recalled every time I made a mistake or the wrong decision. It’s like leaving an audio recording on continuous loop. Jesus is reminding me that He has paid the price for all those “mistakes” (sins) and that He has picked me up and blessed me. In His power, I need to tell that voice in my head to “shut up” and listen only to His voice. It is His words that are Life.

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What is a blessing?

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Jody Neufeld


I am studying some of the principles of my faith. Over the next few days I am going to be sharing some of the basics that have been the foundation that continues to feed into my growth.

I am starting with the Matthew 5 and the Beatitudes. That brings me to a question: What is a blessing? When I think of God blessing me, it is both a spiritual and natural declaration of divine care. That is new consideration for me. Those who know me may find that surprising as I usually close my personal emails with “BLESSINGS!”. I had not considered the … wonder … of what I was doing. I am glad that God wanted to say something to people through me – and I wasn’t aware of it!

Asking God to bless someone is, to me, the perfect prayer. It is the part of my prayer for anyone that assures me that I am asking God to give that person exactly what they need. I may think of someone during the day (or night) and have no idea what is going on in their life – but God does. Asking Him to bless them means I want His hand upon them in whatever way they have a need. If there is someone who has hurt me or angered me in some way, I can ask God to honestly bless them. I take me out of the equation and let Him love them.

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.        Romans 12:14 (NLT)

And Paul exhorts me to bring it on to the next level. Ask for divine care on people who persecute me! I have had people openly dislike me. I doubt they “persecuted” me the way that Paul had personal knowledge of persecution. But nonetheless, Paul is showing me the way Jesus lived. Jesus truly blessed Paul and Paul (Saul) truly persecuted Jesus! Paul knows what he is talking about when he tells me that blessing those who persecute me is living like Jesus. That is where I want to be.

My children are grown. They have children of their own. They live hundreds, even thousands, of miles away from me. Prayer is not restricted by miles. Some might think that it gets easier as a parent when your children are adults. I don’t think so. Choices get more difficult. Responsibilities increase. I probably spend more time praying for my children now than I did when they were children. They need God’s blessings, His divine care. God knows their hearts. He knows where they are in their relationship with Him. God wants that relationship more than I do. He blesses them to bring them closer to Him. I want that, too.

To bless, to consecrate and declare sacred, catches God’s ear and I suspect pleases our Father that we are about carrying His blessings into all the world.

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Child of the King

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question: “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

They replied, “He is the son of David.”

Jesus responded, “Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit, call the Messiah ‘my Lord’? For David said,

“The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.’

Since David called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?”

No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.         Matthew 22:41-46 (NLT)

I have become quite cynical about the media and their reporting of so-called newsworthy stories. First, their definition and mine on what is newsworthy has some very fundamental differences. There is a lot about a public person’s personal life that I don’t care about and I certainly do not think it is any of my business. Then there is the reporting of facts from the perspective of the reporter or the network/newspaper that will have a spin that reflects their agenda, leaving the validity of the facts in question. Having taken a statistics course I found out quickly that numbers can be presented to mean anything that I want them to mean. And facts can be valid but given out of context to mean something not valid.

Jesus was asking the church leadership to give their report on what they thought about the Messiah, specifically, who was His father. They stepped back from reporting the ‘bottom line truth’ – “He is the Son of God” – and instead tried to take the easy way and avoid the whole deity/man controversy and the Trinity controversy. They refused to stand up for what they believed and instead quoted God’s promise that the Messiah would come through the line of David.

What about me? Whose daughter am I? Do I think of myself as Bob and Marybelle’s daughter? Is who I am today defined by my life experiences? Are my accomplishments seen in a better light if I gloss them over with credentials and the “tragedies” portrayed as great obstacles that I have overcome? [I was actually interviewed once and the reporter spoke about my ‘tragic life’. Give me a break!]

Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has happened at last – the salvation and power and kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ! For the Accuser has been thrown down to earth – the one who accused our brothers and sisters before our God day and night. And they have defeated him because of the blood of the lamb and because of their testimony. And they were not afraid to die. Rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea. For the Devil has come down to you in great anger, and he knows that he has little time.”     Revelation 12:10-12 (NLT)

My life is my life today because Jesus died for me. The blood of Jesus overcomes the filthiness of my sins. My testimony of what Jesus has done in my life and keeps doing in my life overcomes my doubts and encourages me and others as I share that testimony. My son, James, testified through his life and death about the unlimited supply of courage and strength that Jesus will give. That has brought me to the place that I now know the assurance of a life in God’s strength that allows me to say, “I am not afraid!” Whether it is the death of my physical body or the death of myself so that Jesus’ plan lives out in me, I am not afraid. I am a daughter of my LORD and KING.

Posted in Matthew, Revelation | Comments Off on Child of the King

God’s Language: There is no ‘But’, ‘Except’, and ‘However’

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

I have set Yahweh always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:8 (WEB)

David, or another psalmist, states that he has made a choice: God is in front of him and everything he sees and how he sees it is through God’s viewfinder. I must remember that God’s perspective may not be the majority’s perspective or the perspective of the ‘loud’ minority.

David’s son, Solomon, continues the tough wisdom he learned – trust God. But remember – chances are that His way of doing things is not going to be the way you think or plan (Proverbs 3).

I wish there was some ‘wiggle room’ on this, Lord. I wish I could trust You and yet see clearly the path You have given me and understand it. Know the reasoning behind it and leave that ‘faith’ part for the ‘easier’ times. But in point of fact, the best way that I acknowledge You, especially in the difficult times, is when I move forward with You without knowing the way or the why.

My understanding of God has both improved and gotten worse! On the one hand, I know God more today than I did 20 years ago. I know His characteristics, His heart. I have felt His love, His extraordinary comfort. But God still troubles me with what He allows to happen. I have difficulty connecting His deep love with the terrible suffering of innocents. And yet…even in those situations I also see the fruit of His Holy Spirit as those who are in those situations have great courage and strength that, in turn, inspire others. Maybe that is the point.

David also said in Psalm 16 that because he has made this choice and God is there, then there is nothing that can shake him from the path he is on or has been given. Where God is, that is where I want to be. I do not want to get distracted from that place.

As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, “I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord.”

Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

He said to another, “Follow me!”

But he said, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.”

But Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce the Kingdom of God.”

Another also said, “I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say good-bye to those who are at my house.”

But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:57-62 (WEB)

Accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord is simple but hard. It takes a step of faith. Following Jesus, being a disciple of Jesus means that I not only choose to put God in front of me every day but I also take my steps in faith every day, all day. I choose to go with Jesus first and have faith that all the other things demanding priority in my life will fall in line behind and be ok. For me, there is no ‘wiggle room’ here either. I must start my day and end my day with the Lord. and I must be willing to ‘adjust’ the rest of my day (week, month, year, season, life) when God taps me on the shoulder and gives me my orders. He is my Commander-in-Chief! I really don’t want God to leave it up to me but…there is no ‘but’.

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The LORD Does Say and Do

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

[The LORD says,]“Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me.

I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout or raise his voice in public.
He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle.
He will bring justice to all who have been wronged.
He will not falter or lose heart until justice prevails throughout the earth.
Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction.”

God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out.
He created the earth and everything in it.
He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth.
And it is he who says,
“I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness.
I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide the nations.
You will open the eyes of the blind. You will free the captives from prison, releasing those who sit in dark dungeons.

I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols.
Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again.
I will tell you the future before it happens.” (Isaiah 42:1-9 NLT)

My Sunday School class studies the Lectionary texts every week. We want to see if there is a “thread” that runs through these four texts; looking to see how God “connects the dots”, if you will. Our pastor always preaches from these texts so it is a preparation for us for our worship that follows the class.

My husband, Henry, offers this explanation of what Lectionary Texts mean: Lectionary texts grew out of the Jewish synagogue readings for the year. Early Christians selected scriptures to read together during the church year that would fit with seasons and help people get an overview of all of scriptures as well. Texts always consist of one selection from a gospel, an Old Testament passage, a Psalm (or other poetic passage), and one epistle (or selection from Acts). A variety of Christian denominations use the same lectionary (with some variations), which is called the Revised Common Lectionary.

The other three texts for yesterday are: Psalm 29, Acts 10:34-43, and Matthew 3:13-17. It was wonderful to see how in all of these God is powerful and Creator. He is the I AM. Isaiah’s passage gives the foretelling of the Messiah who has all that is needed to give to heal and save His people. And yet, He will be known as gentle and mild.

And there is the point that hangs so many of us when we try to understand God. He wins us with His love, not His ability to slay us all with a thought. The horror of the Cross is in direct contrast with Jesus choosing to submit to that death so that we may have life. His death is but a step to His resurrection which promised us eternity.

I hope you take time to read through these passages and notice the power of God that produces not fear and pain but unconditional love and healing. Notice the contrasts and the consistencies. Soak in God’s promises that have already been fulfilled and rest in the peace that comes with the assurance that He will finish what He has begun in each of our lives. I suggest you end your time with 1 Corinthians 1:18-31.

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Bless the Lord

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”

“Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.     Luke 5:1-7 (NLT)

Peter must have been bone-tired that morning. They had been out since dusk the night before trying to make a living and provide for their families. I imagine someone was catching fish that night, but it wasn’t them! Discouragement. Jesus came along and taught Peter about starting over. Giving it a try…one more time. Peter forgot the lesson, too. In Luke 22, Peter is following Jesus, at a distance, into the courtyard outside the High Priest’s home. He forgets all that he has seen over the past three years and, instead, sees only fear and what his eyes can tell him. He proves Jesus right in His prophecy that Peter will deny Him, not just once, but three times. Peter weeps in shame, grief, and despair.

Jesus does not leave Peter in that deep pit. John 21 show how Jesus brought Peter and the other disciples full circle, back to the fishing boat, reminding them where they started and the truth about how far they had come. Jesus shows them a new depth of His love by reminding them of who He is. He is God. He is not dead. He will always be with them.

I would have loved to have been a gull flying overhead and watching Peter’s face as he had that moment of déjà vu. I think that when he felt the pull of all those fish on the net Peter had a flash of knowledge that God had just re-created a miracle. He had done it again! This time the lesson stuck with Peter and he went out and shared that knowledge again, and again, and again!

There are times that I feel too “worn out”, too “weak” to stay the path I have been given. The causes for my fatigue is usually from taking the weight of burdens that are not mine to carry and/or not spending time with Jesus, refreshing in His Spirit. Jesus has always been. He is Creator. He knows my weakness. He wants to recall to me all those times He taught me. Many of them were like sitting on a mountainside or breaking bread together. And then there were times He saved me in storms or came to me in the darkest part of life, walking towards me with His arms open wide to carry me toward the dawn of a new beginning.

Many people keep a journal for this very reason: to remember God’s promises and all that He has already done. Jesus said that we overcome by the very words of our testimonies (Revelation 12).

Let us take some time today to be quiet and listen to Jesus. Let us hear His words of Life. Let us look around us and see God! Whether it is in rain or the beauty of snow, or sunshine and a blue sky, let us take the time we need to be filled with all that is God. And may all that is in me, bless His Holy Name.

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Walking Humbly With My LORD

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice: “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!

Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 14:7-11 (NLT)

I have often read this Scripture and I have heard wonderful preaching on the ‘rightness’ of being humble and having the characteristic of humility.

“For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever Amen.” As Christians pray this as part of what we call The Lord’s Prayer. It reminds me that above all else, God is sovereign. He is the Creator of all and it is His Kingdom that is above all others. This connects me to humility. Being humble isn’t about me. It is keeping my eyes and my heart focused on how great is my LORD. That’s it. If my focus is on God and my desire is to point everyone around me to God, then neither my eyes nor theirs will be on me.

Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.” Luke 14:12-14 (NLT)

Jesus completes the circle of His teaching by reminding me of His example of love. He came to heal those who were sick. He came to love those who seemed unlovable. He loved me before I loved Him. He receives my love when I become a conduit for His love. Does Jesus’ example drive my life? What slides in front of my service to others? Too often I stubbornly hold on to what I think is most important in my life. I dismiss God’s call on my life because it would mean moving away from my family. I miss an opportunity because I put my family, my job, my wants ahead of the needs in God’s Kingdom.

I am still learning. I am grateful that God hasn’t given up on me. His Word is still fresh and alive. It teaches, encourages, convicts, enlightens, and truly does cut through me like a two-edge sword (Hebrews 4:12). When I am struggling in my “lessons”, His Word lifts me and encourages me. His Spirit speaks to my spirit and tells me not to give up. “Come, let carry your burdens, Jody.” In humility, I hand them to the One, and Leave It There…

If the world from you withhold of its silver and its gold,
And you have to get along with meager fare,
Just remember, in His Word, how He feeds the little bird;
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Refrain: Leave it there, leave it there,
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out.
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

If your body suffers pain and your health you can’t regain,
And your soul is almost sinking in despair,
Jesus knows the pain you feel, He can save and He can heal;
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Refrain
When your enemies assail and your heart begins to fail,
Don’t forget that God in heaven answers prayer;
He will make a way for you and will lead you safely through.
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Refrain

When your youthful days are gone and old age is stealing on,
And your body bends beneath the weight of care;
He will never leave you then, He’ll go with you to the end.
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.       Charles Albert Tindley, 1916

Tindley is known as one of the “founding fathers of American Gospel music.” The son of slaves, he taught him­self to read and write at age 17. He was a driven young man, working as a janitor while attending night school, and earning his divinity degree through a correspondence course. In 1902, he became pastor of the Calvary Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the church where he had earlier been the janitor. At the time of Tindley’s death, his church had 12,500 members. The Tindley Temple United Methodist Church in Philadelphia was named after him. Tindley’s “I’ll Overcome Some Day” was the basis for the American civil rights anthem “We Shall Overcome,” popularized in the 1960’s.
(From the following website: http://www.hurricanebrassband.nl/Repertoire%20take%20your%20burden%20to%20the%20lord.htm)

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Fresh Bread

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.          1 John 2:3-6 (NLT)

In my mind, John writes very loving words. When I am talking with someone who is new to reading the Bible, I encourage them to start with John’s gospel. John’s first chapter is almost like poetry. He records Jesus’ words that He desires that we have an “abundant life” (John 10:10). He says not to worry but trust Him; that He is the way; and ask for anything and He will do it (John 14).

It isn’t all posies in John’s gospel but God grew up John and so John shared what he was learning in the letters he wrote in 1, 2, and 3 John and Revelation. And this passage hit me like an arrow, reminding me of a solid truth: if I say that I know God – then I obey Him. Period. And just in case I have some thought in my mind to get around what that is really saying, John takes that away with his next statement that flat out pronounces me a liar if I try to say I know Him and don’t obey! Well, I have been told!

But wait. There is another sentence I need to connect to what I have been told so far. When I obey, it is a complete expression of my love for God. In obedience, I am placing myself in humility, acknowledging that He is my LORD. I am also listening. My life is that of a servant. I am living my life as a servant just as Jesus did.

This year has begun with a conviction in my spirit that there is no more time to try to fool myself or others. I cannot fool God. He knows who and what I am. But I can fool others. I can even talk myself into believing some deceptions. I can ‘play the game’. Look good. Act good. Stink on the inside. No more. I have decided to live naked before God. I am asking God to speak to me about who I am and what needs to change because I am listening!

When I read the Gospels and I see the disciples arguing about who is greater (Luke 9:46), or planning how they will sit next to Him in the Throne Room of Heaven (Matthew 20:21-23), or Peter telling Jesus that He does not have to die (Mark 8:33), I see myself, full of myself; full of pride. I know what’s best for my life. I know how holy I am. I know the best way for God to work out His plan! I see myself and, frankly, I am done with that. So 2011 is a good number, a good year to make a change. Repent, Jody. It is time to show God what is really in my heart. Yes, He already knows but when I choose to open my cloak and be real, God is pleased. Let God clean out the dirt and trash. It is time to be the child He has been teaching and raising me to be.

This is the core reason to read and study my Bible. There is always fresh bread and water to nourish my spirit and move me closer to my Father. There is always more that lifts and encourages me and, in turn, others with whom I share.

“And we can be sure…” Isn’t that an awesome promise? In a world that keeps me off-balance and tries to pour negative junk all over me – I can be sure of my Father’s love. I keep my eyes on Him. I tune my ears to Him – and everything will be all right. I have proof. I have Him.

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Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

[Jody note: My husband, Henry, is sharing with us today from his current study in James.]

19Know this, my beloved brothers and sisters, Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. 20For human anger does not produce divine righteousness.     James 1:19-20 (HN)

I’m a talker. It’s rare that I don’t have something to say. When I’m quiet, it’s usually not because I’m listening to the people around me. It’s more that I’m thinking about various things and—wait for it—coming up with more things to say! I’m also a teacher, so the book of James can be just a bit hard on me (see James 3:1).

But despite its challenging and convicting, and, let’s face it, just a bit annoying comments, James is filled with extremely good, practical advice. It’s no wonder most of us know the book in little pieces, like James 1:5 (do you want wisdom?) or James 5:14-15 (need healing?). But there are themes that run through the book and tie things together, and one of those themes is the idea of bridling the tongue, and how this relates to wisdom. The wise person knows how to bridle the tongue.

Notice how we don’t have a similar command to bridle our ears!

Just think about almost any incident in dealing with other people over whatever time you care to remember. Was it an argument with your spouse? An angry exchange with one of your children? Was it an unguarded moment when you said something you really wish you hadn’t?

In this day of social media, we might include reading as part of listening. How about being quick to read what your friends have said on Facebook, slow to write your own comments, and slow to get angry about what you see and hear? Might that make your life work a little bit better? I’ve seen many debates online become very heated (slow to anger? not so much!) in online forums or social media. But unlike our ordinary conversations the record was there for everyone to see, and it was easy to see that the participants were slow to listen (or read), quick to speak (or write), and quick to anger.

People’s careers have been harmed by things written on MySpace, Facebook, or Twitter; thoughtless things, but there’s a record. It’s not that social media makes it possible for people to be more rude than they ever were before; it’s that it provides a record, so everyone can see how rude you are.

But how about if we changed things around? Quick to listen, slow to speak. What amazing results we might see. And listening does not just mean hearing the words spoken. Listening involves hearing what the other person is actually saying. When you’ve really heard, then you have the right to speak—carefully.

But finally there is “slow to anger.” Anger is a necessary emotion I believe. There are things that should make you angry. But anger makes you react quickly when you ought to react more carefully. You need to take time to ask just what the results of an angry response to someone will be. Will it make their life any better? Will it make my life any better? Will it glorify God? As our text notes, human anger doesn’t produce God’s righteousness, nor the kind of righteousness God wants to produce in us.

I think this is a very good text for the year. No, I won’t stop talking. It’s part of my job. But I really want to listen, and listen long enough to avoid human anger.

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