Proverbs 18:2 9/5/2017*2*

"Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions."

When is the last time you tried to understand someone else’s opinion?
When is the last time you enjoyed airing your own?

If you are like me, the answers to those two questions are embarrassing.

There is an arrogance in us that can’t wait for someone to stop speaking so we can enlighten them.  We use the time our opponent is talking to compose our rebuttal.  Not listening to understand, only listening to prepare a counter attack.

Why are we like that?  What is the root cause?  It is not our ears that have a problem, it is our hearts.

If you don’t value someone why would you care what they believe?  If you don’t think of others as more important than yourself, why would you listen to them?  You cannot love God, and yet find His children unworthy of your consideration. 

We must stop wearing our contentiousness as a badge.  It is not your intelligence that makes you argumentative, it is your self-centeredness.  

Unless we want to be fools, we must learn to listen.  And if we disagree, we must learn to do it without being combative.

Start intentionally placing value on others.  You might find that a caring heart can open your ears.  If you get into a disagreement, really listen.  Change your goal from winning, to understanding. 

You might prove you are right by talking, but it won’t matter if you don’t prove you care by listening.

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."
- Winston Churchill