LISTENING:WHAT IS IT?It is because of lack of this virtue that many marriages have ended!Because of lack of it indeed that people fight!Yes!It is because of it conversely,that people have underrstood each other.Because of it that they have forgiven each other!WHY IS LISTENING IMPORTANT:?It is because it preceeds UNDERSTANDING!IT IS A FOUNDATION FOR KNOWLEDGE!WISDOM C0MES THR0UGH IT!AND ETERNAL LIFE WiLL DEPEND ON IT!,In the Bible there are many times the word LISTEN is usedWords like HEARKEN and HEED all mean listening beyond mere hearing!.Although some translators have often interchanged it with the word HEAR,the word Listen denotes:(1)To make an effort to hear something.(2)T0 wait alertly in order to hear a sound.(3)to allow oneself to be persuaded by a suggestion or request.This clearly shows that to listen involves,Participation,Attention,Alertness,Effort and most importantly it means,Active Hearing Hearing alone has connotations that depict inactive participation.The right words perhaps would be:Voluntary(Listening)Involuntary(Hearing) or C0nscious(Listening)Sub C0nscious(Hearing).This means I can not choose what I hear,I will hear anyway!No effort needed!But I can choose to listen!The scripture is replete with instances where the emphasis is placed on this virtue!Mathew 11vs15He that hear ,let him Hear Here translators from greek to English may confuse us.Nonetheless,what Jesus was saying:Him who hears should not only end there by merely hearing the sound but pay attention so that he can discern what am saying which will lead him to gain Knowledge and wisdom to save his life!(I have paraphrased)James 1vs19...Every man be swift to hear,slow to speak,slow to wrathJames is saying unless I listen,my speech will border on ignorance!I will be of no use!But when I listen,I call to action,I activate,I stimulate and ignite the higher powers in the facaulty of my conscious mind viz:Empathy;Sympathy; alertness;Love,Humility;..so forth!!Example of not listening:JOHN11vs21-40.Lazarus is dead and Christ comes to Martha!vs23 Jesus tells her,Your brother shall rise again!Note her answer:I Know...Vs 25 Jesus says am the ressurrection and the life..Vs27 she is not paying attention as he speaks to her,she is talking of other things, ..vs28 she goes away!vs 39,Jesus orders the removal of the stone.Martha is negative,she is concerned more about thestinkthan what The Master is assuring her!Vs 40 Jesus again asks her to believe!What are we saying brothers and sisters!Listening is very important!It can mean life or Death sometimes!It can cost us relationships.It may help us mend variances if we listen!Listening can help us gain trust!The lack of it can make usLOOKselfish and uncaring!Let us listen not only with our ears but our minds not only that,but very importantly,with our HEARTS!God bless you today!
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 06:28:25 +0000
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