Less Talk and More Wisdom - Martin Wiles

Even fools are thought to be wise when they keep silent; when they keep their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. Proverbs 17:28 NLT

“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” Several have said it in various configurations. Regardless of the version, each entails less talk and more wisdom. 

When I was young, I acted foolishly in many ways. One was talking during church. I suppose the church my dad pastored didn’t have a nursery. These were the days when children still cut their teeth on church pews and were taught to remain silent during church. Acting childishly resulted in a trip outside or to a back classroom for a learning lesson applied to the hindquarters.

My saintly grandmother, who didn’t want her only grandson getting a spanking, brought along a pocketful of chocolate candy, silver bells as I called them. Stuffing my mouth with them for forty-five minutes probably wasn’t healthy, but it helped me keep my mouth closed.

Wise King Solomon had a lot to say about when and what a person should and should not say when they did speak.

Less talk promotes selflessness. Life was about me as a youngster—and for some years thereafter. Kids are narcissistic; so are some adults. But life isn’t about us. By reducing the number of words we speak, we learn to hear about what’s going on in others’ lives.

Talking less enables us to actually hear what others are saying. The other person doesn’t stand a chance if we're doing all the talking. Nor can we hear them if we’re silent but mulling over what we will say when they finish talking. That’s called lack of focus—or focusing on the wrong thing. Looking at the person speaking helps us listen and digest what they’re sharing.

Being a person of few words also helps us consider the importance of our words. One of my college professors had an annoying habit of pausing before he answered a question—so much so that I wanted to answer for him. Later, I understood his reasoning. He thought before he spoke—which, by the way, saves from making many foolish statements.

Listening more than we speak opens up opportunities for us to help others. We hear and understand what they’re saying, and then we can speak and act wisely.

Think of ways you could speak less so others can talk more.

Father, give me wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent. 

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The Art of Listening - Karen Huffaker

Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another, to show love, and to do good. Hebrews 10:24 GNT

I’ve never been a big talker, but I'm usually a pretty good listener. By profession, I had to be. In my work, until negotiations reached a mutual agreement, I listened to employee issues and concerns, my internal customers’ needs and requirements, and my vendors. It was good training. I might not have agreed with them, but I had to listen and often needed to do this with a nod and a smile.

I was humbled by how little I knew and learned more by listening than speaking. Rather than imparting my wisdom to them, I obtained wisdom from them.

Over time and through many prayer requests, I pictured God listening to me with a nod and a smile. It was as if He were saying, “I know, my child.” He’s the best of all listeners, even though He already knows my burdens and needs. More importantly, He’s already got it covered in His own way and as part of His plan.

When I listen to others—especially God—I gain knowledge, wisdom, and understanding and grow in my relationship with Him.

As we seek to understand, we empathize and put their concerns before ours. Communication goes to the next level. We sense the depth of their sorrow and pain, and our hearts are burdened. So, we pray for and with them. Our desire is to help, encourage, and lighten their burden.

Listening lets others see how we value and care about them. Relationships develop when we care for one another. Our value does not consist in things but relationships. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we belong to the family of God—a growing family of relationships. By listening, encouraging, and showing love, they will see the kind of love Jesus has for us.

We all long for someone to care about us. Life is also more meaningful if we care for others. Think of someone in your circle who could use a listening ear, a nod, a smile of encouragement, or a word of comfort.

If you enjoyed this devotion, please share it with your friends.  

Karen Huffaker is a freelance Christian writer. She has taught children’s Sunday school and single mom’s Bible studies and written poetry. She is from the Deep South and loves reading Christian books, devotionals, genealogy adventures, fishing, and all things family. She is also passionate about her grandchildren’s sporting events. 

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The Talking Donkey - Martin Wiles

Then the Lord caused the donkey to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me these three times?” Numbers 22:28 NLT

Although He has His normal means, God isn’t limited by how He can speak. And the talking donkey proves it.

My wife and I were once proud—well, sometimes proud—owners of a Deer Head Chihuahua named Twix. Since he was our daughter’s dog and had been passed around between her at-the-time boyfriend and my mom, we felt sorry for him, took him in, and put up with his cantankerous ways.

I never heard him speak audibly—and would question my state of mind if I did—but he had his ways of making his wishes known. With his eyes or by snorting, he communicated, “I need to go outside,” “I want a treat,” or “Will you recline so I can snuggle?” Over the years, I understood what he was trying to relate. Sometimes, I scolded him for snorting or staring, even though I did what he wanted.  

Balaam, on the other hand, actually heard his animal speak. He was a sorcerer hired by a pagan king to place a curse on God’s people. God allowed Balaam to do this but was angry he was doing it with a greedy spirit. So, God sent an angel to stand in Balaam’s path. Seeing the angel with the drawn sword, the donkey stopped in its tracks. After Balaam beat him a few times, God allowed the donkey to speak.

Donkeys and dogs aren’t God’s typical methods of delivering messages. His Word, other believers, prayer, and a strong heart feeling are. God is God, though, and can talk any way He chooses. Who am I to confine Him by building boxes He won’t appreciate?

The method or messenger isn’t as important as the message. With Balaam, God was confronting his greedy attitude and warning him again not to do something foolish.

God’s message to all believers is “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments.” While crucial, that message is too general. He has a specific word—many words—we need to hear throughout our lifetime. If we listen, He’ll direct our path every day. We’ll pray for His will for us—as well as for others and the world—to be done on earth daily even as it is in heaven. And when we listen, we’ll experience true peace and joy.

How can you listen for God to speak? Don’t make Him use a donkey to get your attention—although He can.

Father, tune my ears to hear You so I won’t miss a single opportunity You place in my paths. 

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When God Says Come - Martin Wiles

Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” Matthew 14:28 NLT

He had called me to come before . . . but never like this. So when God says come, I must go.

The first time I came was as a fisherman. My brother and I were cleaning our nets when he came strolling along the beach. He invited me to leave my nets and career and fish for people. A strange call, but I followed. Most recently, he had asked me to figure out how the other disciples and I would feed more than five thousand people who had been listening to him teach. He instructed the crowd to sit on the ground in groups and told us to pass out the pieces of bread and fish we had scrounged from the crowd.

Miracles seemed to follow Jesus. He sent the crowds away after he fed them. Then, he sent us away as well. While the other disciples and I were in the middle of the lake, a storm arose. When it seemed we would die, Jesus walked us on the water. Once I realized it wasn’t a ghost, I thought I might like to try what he was doing. So, I asked, and he told me to come.

Peter was a reckless fellow, willing to try almost anything—whether good or bad. Sometimes he strutted like the sole cock in the chicken yard. At other times, he failed miserably. But, to his credit, he accepted Jesus’ invitation to walk on water.

Jesus’ invitations to come are varied. He’s issued invitations to me numerous times over my lifetime. Sometimes, I’ve listened and obeyed, but I’ve also had instances where my faith faltered, and I said “No.” He calls some into full-time ministry, some on short-term mission trips, some to the hospitals, and some to the local women’s shelter. Others he beckons to the classrooms, their neighbors, and the local fire departments.

Where God’s invitation takes us is not as important as our willingness to go where he invites us.

Listen carefully. You might just hear God calling you.

Prayer: Father, give us faith and courage to go where You invite us. 

Tweetable: How do you respond when God calls? 

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Meandering Monday - How’s Your Listening? - Martin Wiles

Welcome to Meandering Monday, where we take a trip back to an earlier post and enjoy it again.

Now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. Hebrews 1:2 NLT

As a teacher, I’m especially familiar with the difference between hearing and listening.

I don’t teach any deaf students, so, technically, all my students always hear what I say. But on test days or instances when we are orally practicing what they’ve heard, I readily realize not all of them have listened. Or when I give instructions and a student immediately asks me a question I just answered, I know hearing took place but not listening.

With my ears, I receive sounds, but to listen I must engage my attention and mind. Listening requires focusing on what I’ve heard and then processing it, so it stays with me and is ushered into my long-term memory.

Hearing and listening don’t always take place at the same time. The entire Old Testament record is the story of God speaking to people who often didn’t listen. From the first couple to those living when Jesus arrived, disobedience revealed itself as a universal thread. God spoke through visions, dreams, prophets, and natural phenomena. While those who witnessed these feats and heard these messages appeared to listen, many didn’t hear. Had they, their actions would have differed.

God also spoke his love through sacrifices. Rather than requiring a person’s life because of their sins, he allowed them to bring a substitute. Animal sacrifices, however, were only temporary and symbolic. Since they weren’t perfect, sin was only momentarily covered.

But when God spoke through his Son, he completed the required sacrifice. No more killings. Just listening to and accepting the one who has been offered on our behalf.

When we truly listen to God’s message of love, actions will follow. Not only will we accept but we will also prove we’ve listened through our lifestyles. We will love God with our entire beings, love others as we do ourselves, and adopt attitudes that honor our Savior.

Are you listening to what God is saying to you?

Prayer: Omnipotent God, enable us not only to hear but also to listen to You when You speak. 

Tweetable: How are your listening skills? 

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Hearing the Voice - Martin Wiles

Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face. Exodus 33:11 NLT

“My greatest fear is not being able to hear his voice.”

Our headmaster gave his final remarks to faculty and staff at our annual Christmas meal when he made the statement. He wished us a Merry Christmas but reminded us that not everyone enjoyed the season—especially those who had lost loved ones since the previous Christmas. And he had. His father had died several months after Christmas. At their last family Christmas gathering, our headmaster had no way of knowing it would be the last with his father. Not wanting to forget his father’s voice, he told his mother never to erase his voice mail message from her phone. 

I share my headmaster’s fear, but perhaps I have an advantage. My father was a preacher, so I have several recorded CDs of his preaching—from when he was a young man until just before he died. When I think I’ve forgotten how his voice sounded, all I have to do is pop in a CD—something I wish I could do with other loved ones who have died.

Moses didn’t have a voice problem with God. He had a special relationship wherein God spoke face to face with him as people do with each other. Listening was his only challenge.

In the present time, God doesn’t speak audibly to people as He once did. We have his full revelation recorded in His Word, so no further need for a word from Him exists. All we must do is listen to the Word He’s already revealed.

God will, however, apply His Word to our daily situations. This requires listening, and the way we hear is through the indwelling presence of His Spirit.

God’s Spirit can speak to us in such a clear way that it almost seems audible, but hearing Him requires prayer, time in His Word, sensitivity to spiritual things, fellowship with other believers, and perhaps even fasting.

Anything God’s Spirit tells us will agree with His Word. If it doesn’t, then we haven’t heard from God—as much as we might like to think we have.

God wants us to know His mind, so we can always be on track with His will for our lives. So listen. He’ll never lead you in the wrong direction.

Tweetable: Do you hear God's voice?

Prayer: Father, thank You for speaking to us by Your Spirit. Help us always to hear You clearly. 

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Throwback Tuesday - The Art of Good Listening - Martin Wiles

The Art of Good Listening

Intently locked into what she was doing, she didn’t hear me when I spoke to her.

In the days before DVD’s, my daughter was still a distracted listener. A “Barney the Purple Dinosaur” VCR tape was a convenient way to keep her occupied while I did other things. I was able to get some work accomplished, and she was watching material with honorable values. Trouble was, when the time came for her to listen to me she didn’t hear me when I called. The purple dinosaur had captured so much of her attention that she didn’t hear a more important voice. Read more...

Tweetable: Are you a good listener?

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