“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19).

A young couple sat before the pastor in his church study. Frank began the conversation by saying, “Pastor, we are new to this area. We’ve moved from…” but before he could finish, Lacey interrupted, “Frank, get to the point. He doesn’t care about where we’re from. Tell the preacher what you did.” Frank looked very embarrassed as he started to speak again, “Well, Pastor,” and at that point he again was interrupted by his wife. “Hurry up and tell him, Frank, or I will!” Again Frank tried to talk as he said to the pastor, “I know that we need a local church. I’ve tried to tell Lacey that we…” and that was as far as he could get before Lacey again interrupted and said, “I’ve had it, Pastor. He told me to be quiet and listen, and I told him that I don’t need to hear such a thing!” This conversation with interruptions continued for another ten minutes before the pastor interrupted! Turning in his Bible to James 1:19, he shared with Lacey (and her embarrassed husband) the truths of God’s Word. She interrupted him three times before suddenly it hit her. God’s Word actually told her to be faster in listening and slower in talking. How does this truth affect you?

For today: Slow to listen. Does that describe you?