Will You Hear Me Now?

My son, pay attention to my wisdom; Lend your ear to my understanding.

Proverbs 5:1

Does anyone really listen anymore? Are you frustrated by shallow conversation with the people you deal with from day to day? If so, you might want to check your newspaper. A woman once placed an ad in a suburban newspaper offering to listen to anyone talk for thirty minutes for five dollars. The next thing she knew, her phone was ringing off the hook! People were hungry to be heard, and they were more than willing to pay someone to listen to them. Listening intently with one’s mouth firmly shut is an elusive grace.

Not being heard in relationships is equal to not being valued. We can’t always offer a potential masterpiece in our relationship conversation, but we can always respond to others as though it were just that. When Jesus came to visit Mary and Martha, they responded in very different ways. Mary sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His words, while Martha busied herself in the kitchen.

There is a time and place for everything, but the highest priority with each other should be the willingness to listen. In Luke 10:41–42, Jesus responded to Martha, “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better” (NIV).

Choose what is better: choose to listen.