“What was I thinking?” I have found myself muttering out loud more times than I care to admit. This particularly happens when it comes to something I said that I immediately regretted. The truth is, in many of those instances, I was not thinking. I simply spoke without thinking about the words I said. Maybe you can relate. When these times come, I wish I had taken the time to think before speaking. After all, thinking before we speak gives us the opportunity to filter the words we plan to say and change them if necessary.
The book of James reminds us to think before we speak. In James 1, James writes, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry” (verse 19). The first instruction in this verse is to be "quick to listen." Being quick to listen means to stay quiet when others are talking. It means to pay attention to what others are saying around us without interrupting. When we listen, we are able to understand what has been said and respond appropriately. Listening is crucial, but it is not the only instruction in James 1:19. The second instruction in this verse is to be "slow to speak." For some, this is a difficult command. Being quick to speak comes naturally. Being slow to speak takes deliberate practice and time. When we choose to be slow to speak, we reap the benefits. We think more carefully about the words we say, which means that we regret fewer of the words we say.
Because our words are powerful, we need to listen well and speak carefully. Imagine the impact followers of Christ would have if we all committed to obeying the instruction in James 1:19. Imagine the reputation Christians would have if we committed to being quick to listen and slow to speak. Imagine how your relationships might change if you choose to listen quickly and speak slowly. May we all seek to choose our words carefully and wisely and be deliberate with each word that we say.
Choose today to follow James’ instruction in the Scripture we studied today and be "quick to listen" and “slow to speak.” Listen carefully. Be slow to interrupt. Consider the weight of your words before you speak. At the end of the day, reflect on the impact of listening quickly and speaking slowly. How did living this way prevent you from saying words you would have regretted? How did it help you speak words of life instead of death? Let the impact of being quick to listen and slow to speak throughout your day encourage you to continue living this way so that you can choose your words carefully and wisely.
19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
