Listen Quick

A man went to compete in a singing competition. He was very excited and looking forward to singing. As he closed in singing one judge commented on his voice, saying, "You have a nice voice, but you need training." The young man began to sing more while another judge comments saying, "Your vocals are all over the place but practice..."

Now the young man is upset, he begins shouting vigorously, reacting as if his dream was now taken away. The final judge interrupted the contestant, saying, "You have to find humility in what you are doing. We are trying to help you". This man was so upset that he began shouting, "I can sing, you can't sing. You all are trying to tell me, I can't sing".

He was then escorted by security out of the room because he was quick to speak, react and unable to receive that the judges were advising him how to expand the gift he had of singing.

I am reminded of James speaking to the scattered tribe during trials. He said "let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God," James 1:19.

The text is pointing out to the believer qualities we should have in trials. First we should be quick to hear. The young man previously mentioned did not want to hear what the judges had to say. He was convinced he knew it all. We have to be attentive and quickly hear what God has to say.

The second quality we must have is being slow to speak because our point of view will overshadow God's point of view. If we condition ourselves to be quick to hear God's point of view, slow to speak our point of view, much will be accomplished. The reality is when we are going through we are going to hear God say something that is going to tick us off.

He told the rich young ruler to get rid of all your possessions and follow me. This ticked him off - he was declaring, "Look, I know all your ways and I have stuck to it, but now you tell me to get rid of my stuff? You must be tripping." Many of us hear what God says and react just like the rich young ruler.

The third quality we must have is being slow to wrath. James says slow down, proceed with caution when we are upset. Don't blow up and allow our emotions to override. Becoming heated acting out of control will cause us to miss the blessing based on us not managing our emotions. Anger is not going to produce righteousness. Anger will get you escorted out of a place. It will get you a free ride to jail. It will get you deep in a hole wondering, how can I get out?

When we are able to position ourselves to be quick to listen to God’s point, slow to speak what our point of view or our friend's point of view, then when a crisis shows up at the door, having a fit will be far from the response toward the crisis.

Many Christians, like the contestant, are having tantrums during trials. Instead of reacting in a calm delightful manner, as it says in James 1:2 “count it all joy when you fall in various trials,” Christians are having fits. We have the Word implanted within, which is suppose to expand but when we act opposite of the traits that are righteous in our trials; we stop the growth process of the seed in us. The Word is implanted to grow, to expand for us to blossom.

Are you facing a trail today? Have you felt your dream has been shattered? Did you lose a child or loved one? Are you facing a financial disaster or sickness?

What quality are you displaying in your situation? Is it slow to hear, fast to speak and quick to get upset which produces nothing but mess. Or, is it swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger which produces righteousness.

Consider displaying the trait that will produce righteousness. Pray to God to help you clear your mind so you may hear his voice. Call upon the Lord to help you be slow to give your opinion and slow to become angry so your character will be built in a righteous manner.