“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”(James 1:19).
Sometimes an instructor or boss will say, “Listen up, now,” or, “Pay attention to what I’m going to say next.” That’s what James is doing when he says, “Know this.” Once he has the reader’s attention, he gives three brief instructions: be quick to hear; be slow to speak; be slow to anger.
A preacher who had the task of communicating this passage to junior-age children gave the following challenge: “Don’t be a know-it-all.” You can probably think of a junior-aged “know-it-all.” You may have met a few adult know-it-alls, as well. People in the habit of using their mouths more than their ears often jump to wrong conclusions because they don’t have all the information. Then, as James 1:19 warns and as often happens with a jump to conclusions, anger may also enter the situation.
Many employees enter a group discussion with the goal of communicating a particular agenda or solution which they’re intent upon pursuing. They forget that a group of 5 people has 4 others who are probably approaching the task with their own ideas. You may be assigned to a group project for a class or at your work. As you consider a course of action, you think your plan is the best; but you can’t know unless you listen to the others. Consider how much more important this concept is in relation to the church and your spiritual growth. If you think you know more than everybody else and have arrived spiritually, you’ll not be open to additional knowledge the Lord may be offering to you. You may miss out on a wonderful truth and end up working toward the wrong agenda or solution.
None of us knows it all; we need to look to the One who does. We do this by studying his Word and paying attention when it’s being taught or read by others. If we’re quick to hear and slow to speak, we’ll also be less apt to respond in anger.