If there is one gift, almost every person can give, it is listening, It does not need much. It only requires time, a bit of space, full sincerity and attention. Even the hearing impaired can do it, as long as he looks out for other communication forms and non-verbal cues the other person is giving out.
As humans, we also have an innate need to be heard. Even introverts have at least one friend they confide in. And so, listening is one really essential habit we can all develop if we want to show our love to others.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
But what hinders us from genuinely listening to others? Our generation is too busy. Our schedules are so jam packed that if our “bestest” of friends would need us we dare enter it into our schedule, and line it up along our list of what we need to do for the day.
We have become so conscious of losing our time on pursuits that will not directly benefit us, but we so willingly squander our time over mindless content, watching curated lies other people make about their lives, and even coveting their lifestyle.
And if by chance we get to listen, we would be so distracted our minds go bonkers thinking about other things, one of which is how to control our fear of missing out because we have not checked our social media feed for the last 10 minutes we have been listening to our friend. How selfish, right? For some though, they listen only to respond back, and turn the conversation towards them and their lives.
But if we are to genuinely follow Christ’s example, then we ought to heed His words:
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13
In the Gospel of John Chapter 15, Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” In today’s terms, life equates time. We do not have to literally die for our friends or other people, giving them our time by listening to them is okay. We just have to give up some of our relaxation time, or even doom scrolling time to a person needing to unload a burden she has been carrying in her heart.
In His earthly ministry, Jesus also listened to what the troubled had to say. He spent time with sinners. He asked the sick and the disabled what they wanted Him to do for them. Jesus listened.
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” Matthew 9:10-12
And so we must follow into Jesus’ footsteps and give others our time by listening to them. This way, we do not only grow in Christlikeness, we also get to thank God, and pay his goodness and faithfulness forward by being there for others, just as He was for us.
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25
So what are we to do? How do we apply this in our lives? We genuinely show others that we care for them by listening to them. Giving them our time of day. Listening is one of the best acts of kindness because we can do it for someone who badly needs to unload his worries to another. Someone who just needs someone to talk to.
Listening is kindness too when we try to listen to an elderly who is talking about a story she once mentioned to you before. It is also an act of kindness when we listen to an opinion far different from ours, and still respect it.
We should not also be burdened by listening just because we are not confident about giving a godly advice. Listening does not require us to respond a lot, as it is okay to just give assurances that we understand and hear the person out.. In fact not everyone who needs someone to listen to them wants to know what their listener has to say.
“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.” Romans 15:1
And so today, give that person a call or spend some time with that someone whom you thought needs an ear to hear. You will never know the difference this act of kindness will create in their day!
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Hebrews 10:23-25 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Have you ever tried to sincerely listen to someone in need of a person to talk to? How did it feel?
Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the opportunity to listen to others. Sorry for the times I have avoided giving this gift of love and care to someone else due to selfishness over my time. Give me the grace Lord to be genuinely sincere in helping others through listening, and at the same time, the grace to imitate your example. Amen.
