Quick to Listen Slow to Speak

From Me & My Big Mouth by North Point Ministries on YouVersion

Open mouth . . . insert foot. Have you ever been there? You started to talk and quickly wished you could stuff the words back in. Or perhaps you’ve been the recipient of someone else’s foot-in-mouth moment. If so, you’ve likely felt the hurt of misspoken words.

James 1:19-21 ESV
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

As we know from James’ instruction to “be quick to listen, slow to speak,” we all have the ability to hit pause. What we don’t have the ability to do is rewind. Once our words are out there, they can’t be taken back.

When we’re under pressure, angry, or in a hurry, it can be easy to let the wrong words come out or to say the right words at the wrong time. We’re typically quick to speak, slow to listen—the exact opposite of James’ advice!

But by pausing before speaking, we put the needs of others ahead of our own. We give them the opportunity to express their opinions or tell their side of the story.

Proverbs 13:3 ESV
Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Today, look for opportunities to give others the chance to talk first. Rather than listening in order to reply, try James’ advice—flip the script and be “quick to listen, slow to speak” instead.