I wish I had a dollar for all the times I have told my children to listen, or ask the question, “Did you hear me?” So many times, we get in trouble because we do not listen. Not listening can be deadly in the physical world. If a nurse does not listen to and follow the doctor’s directives, the patient can receive the wrong medicine. In the spiritual world, it can be deadly, too. We can ignore the instructions God gives and lose our eternal souls. In Proverbs 1:5, Solomon instructs us that, under the inspiration of God, a wise man will hear. To hear with the intent of gaining knowledge is the hearing that increases understanding and learning.
Proverbs 1:5 “A wise man will hear and will increase learning, and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:”
The number one rule for increasing learning and attaining wise counsel is hearing! I love to teach, but the only way teaching is successful is for the student to listen and learn. So many times, I have taught students who appeared to be listening because their eyes were on me, but I could tell by how they looked that they were not listening. They fit the phrase, “the lights are on but nobody’s home.” To properly hear, you must have a desire to learn. You must humble yourself to yield to the instruction of others. Especially the instruction of God’s word. This last sentence may seem to be a given, and it should be, but some in our culture believe the word of God is outdated, and it can be picked and chosen according to your likes. In II Timothy 3:16, Paul writes that all scripture is good for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for teaching us righteousness. I’ve heard a pastor friend say many times, “All means all, and that’s all, all means.”
II Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
In James 1:19, we are told to be “swift to hear and slow to speak.” Fools love to hear themselves. They are not interested in what others have to say. Their sin has deceived them, and they chose their own words rather than listen to the wisdom of others.
Proverbs 1:22 “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?”
James 1:19 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”
How well do you listen to others? Are you thinking about how you can respond while others are talking, or are you really listening? I know it is sometimes difficult to listen and pick out the nuggets of truth you hear, but we must discipline ourselves to pay attention. We will not only give an account to God for what we hear, but also for what we would have heard if we had listened.
Listening is tough for children because, in their minds, they think they know more than their parents. Children have one thing on their minds: what they want. They are self-deceived. I remember putting my hands on both sides of my children’s faces and speaking directly to them. Then, I would make them repeat what they heard to me. I wanted to make sure they heard and understood the instruction. Understandably, children would be this way, but as adults, we should put away childish things and act responsibly. We are to seek wisdom and instruction. Many adults act like children in the area of hearing. They value their opinion and their experience above God’s word. A wise man will choose to listen. A wise man will realize we constantly need instruction from God’s word. It is the guide to all truth and all wisdom. A wise man will listen up when God’s word is read or taught. A truly wise man will seek out and study God’s word, and he will listen up as he reads, so the Holy Spirit can enlighten him on the truths of God’s word.
Don’t be a fool! Proverbs 1:22 teaches us that fools hate knowledge. Romans 1:21-22 teaches us that we become fools when we do not retain and value God’s knowledge, when we don’t glorify Him as our God and creator, when we are not thankful, and when we profess to be wise instead of honoring and following the only wise God.
Proverbs 1:22 “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?”
Romans 1:21-22 “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,”
I Timothy 1:17 “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”
