The Art of Listening
Our Tuesday night Life Group is studying the Book of Job. This week, we began to look at the dialogue between Job and his three friends. I am learning not to be as hard on these three friends as I have been in the past. Why? Because I have done the same thing they have done, by talking when I should be listening. Job nails his friends on this matter. In chapter 13, verses 5 and 6, Job says...
"If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom. Hear now my argument; listen to the plea of my lips."
OUCH! Did you get what Job said? He basically said, "The smartest thing you guys could do right now is shut up!" Yet, over and over, Job says to his friends, "Please listen!" Job did not want his friends opinions, advice, theological ponderings or criticism. He wanted their ears and needed their compassion.
The Book of Job seems to have more questions in it than any other book in the Bible. Many of these questions are left unanswered. I believe as we get older and as we mature in our faith, we become a little more comfortable with the fact that God does not answer all our questions. And if God does not choose to answer all the questions, why should I feel like I need to?
So, maybe all that friend (or your spouse, your children, etc...) really wants from you and me is to LISTEN... and love them!
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