One of the first lessons we must teach children is how to listen. In most cases, they have no problem learning to talk, but learning to listen is not so easy. We must teach them to cease other activities and concentrate on the things being said by those in authority. It is only after one has heard that he can properly react to the message. Yet, learning to listen to parents, teachers and other figures of authority is not the ultimate point of preparing our children to hear. The ultimate aim of such training is preparing them to listen with true respect and reverence to the instruction of God. As our meeting begins, it would be good for all of us to examine ourselves about our readiness to hear God's will proclaimed.
The account of Cornelius' conversion contains an example of preparation to hear God's word. After relating the things that led up to his sending for Peter, Cornelius said, "So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all things commanded you by God" (Acts 10:33). The passage states three essential qualities that must be a part of every prepared hearer. First, they were all present. One cannot hear all said if one is not present when the speaking begins. Absence or tardiness make proper hearing impossible. Second, they assembled with the recognition that they were in the presence of God as they heard. One cannot properly hear if his focus is on other humans present in the assembly. We must always remember that we come into the presence of God as we listen to His word and let that recognition move us to hear with humble reverence and solemn determination, understanding the eternal implications of the occasion. Third, they were ready to hear all things commanded by God. One is not properly prepared to hear if he only wants to hear selected parts of the truth rather than the whole counsel of God (cf. Acts 20:20-27). Neither is one properly prepared to hear if he or she comes to be entertained by jokes, stories or other crowd gathering techniques of human origin. Our purpose in coming to each service this week should be to hear the whole truth with its reproofs, rebukes and exhortations solidly based upon the Scripture.
Jesus taught that the hearer of spiritual truth must learn to listen properly. He said, "Therefore take heed how you hear" (Lk. 8:18). If we are to listen as Jesus wants us to listen, we must "take heed" regarding how we hear. Where can we go for instruction on how to hear God's word?
One place we can go for such instruction is to James 1:19-27. The previous verse in the context focuses our minds on the proper source for all spiritual nourishment by reminding, "Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of His creatures" (Jas. 1:18). The inspired writer then teaches us several divinely-guided principles about becoming acceptable hearers of that word of truth.
When one truly seeks the righteousness of God as his goal, he properly values the need to listen to God's word and humbly seeks its instruction. His life will evidence the attitude of the psalmist: "His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates both day and night" (Psa. 1:2). Solomon even noted the priority of hearing by urging, "be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools" (Eccl. 5:1). Did this denigrate all sacrifice? No, it affirmed the necessity of hearing God's will first to properly instruct about acceptable sacrifice before offering according to one's own thoughts and being found a fool as a result. All proper obedience is prompted from the instruction found in God's word. Hence, we see the priority of hearing.
It must also be noted that there is a vast difference between being "swift to hear" and desiring that the time given to hearing be swift. Our age is filled with too many of the latter and too few of the former. How can anyone hope to spend eternity in reverent praise to God and yet complain if the teaching of God's word goes longer than thirty or forty minutes? If we place the proper value on hearing God's word, we will desire the opportunity to study and grow from its teaching as much as possible. If we think it too taxing on us that we be here at each opportunity to learn, we best rethink our priorities.
Just as filthiness and wickedness are inconsistent with God's truth, "meekness" is an essential quality for all who desire God's word to have a lasting impact upon their lives. The word translated "meekness" in our Bible refers to the strength of character which is brought under the controlling harness of God's will. It is the willingness to let God direct our path.
"For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was" (Jas. 1:23-24). Why would we look in a mirror if we did not intend to correct that which is amiss? It would making looking in the mirror a waste of time.
So it is with the those who read the Bible or listen to it being proclaimed, but never intend to change that which they find to violate the will of God. The word of God is designed to scrutinize our heart and prick us to change our ways (Heb. 4:12-13). It was never meant to satisfy mere intellectual curiosity.
James goes on to show the way we should react to God's message. "But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does" (Jas. 1:25). God demands that His message be remembered in our day to day activities, not forgotten when we close our Bible or leave the assembly where it has been preached.
James shows how we must "continue in" God's word. "If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (Jas. 1:26-27). According to the Bible, proper hearing demands that we cease actions which are not approved by God and do those things which God does approve within His truth. We must be seeking to let God direct our actions to please Him as instructed within His word. It is just that simple.