Wisdom

 


Some people have told me that I am wise. I suppose with age, experience and study of the Word, wisdom can be a natural outcome. I also believe that to some extent, the Lord has given me the gift of wisdom. This is not wisdom that comes naturally through the aforementioned age and experience. This is supernatural wisdom that comes from God. This is wisdom that comes from His ability to see things that we cannot, to see the big picture.

However, having said that, I think the thing that maybe stands out most in people’s minds is my ability to listen.

Having worked for many years at Metropolitan Ministries and having people come to me in search of answers, one of the things that I learned is that before they come to me, they have rehearsed in their minds a story that they want me to hear. Often, listening to that story and making people feel like they have been heard is half the battle. So, I listen to what they have to say, and I don’t interrupt until they start repeating themselves. At that point I call a time out and I try repeating to them what they told me in the form of a question. “Let me see if I heard you correctly. Is this what you are trying to tell me?”

Then, once again, I listen to their answer. Too often people are so intent on finding solutions and answers, that their mind is so busy that they don’t listen to the question or the story.

Most men in successful long-term marriages have learned that when their wives come to them with a problem, nine times out of ten, they want you to just listen and not to fix the problem. So, we just listen, and we empathize. We hold them and we love them and if we’re smart, we pray with them.

The word “listen” appears in the Bible some 352 times. Just the mere volume of times it is used should tell you the importance of listening.

Luke 9:44

"Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you:

A literal translation from the Greek for “listen carefully” would be “let it sink down into your ears”. In other words, don’t be in a rush, really listen.

People are in so much of a rush; living in a microwave, twitter, and Instagram age, that they don’t take time to listen. Is it any surprise that so many people make bad decisions?

The Bible tells us that apart from God, people hear, but they don’t listen. Having ears, they do not hear.

John 10:27

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

Sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd because he feeds them, takes care of them, protects them, and leads them to new pastures. He also anoints them with oil to protect them from flies. Why wouldn’t they listen?

Do I believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God? Of course I do, but I listen because when I have heard and obeyed His voice before, He has never steered me wrong. He has always had my best interests in mind, even when I didn’t like what I was hearing. I have also screwed up many times when I didn’t listen. God was gracious and worked with me through those times.

Since I am the recipient of so much grace; I have decided to take the time to listen others and then listen to God before I open my mouth.

That and only that is what makes me wise in people’s eyes.

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