Are you a good listener?

Gators football is back! There are times during close games I struggle to listen (instead of yelling at the TV!). 

There are many times we can all struggle to listen, but if we listen more and react less, it can prevent a lot of problems. 

James 1:19 says, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”

In Joshua 22, Israel could’ve avoided a really tense situation if they had done that. 

Verses 11‬-‭12‬ ‭says, “And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel. And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them.”

They jumped to the conclusion that those tribes whose land was on the other side of the Jordan River were trying to disobey God in their worship, but once they (finally) heard them out, they realized everything was fine. A better response could’ve avoided that nearly lethal situation. 

It’s easy to talk first and listen later if at all, but let’s follow what the Bible says and let God lead us as we respond to life’s situations. 

Today’s Bible reading is Joshua 22.