He who answers before listening—
that is his folly and his shame.
—Proverbs 18:13
“The first duty of love is to listen,” wrote theologian Paul Tillich.
Think you have nothing to give? You do—your undivided attention.
In The Road Less Traveled, M. Scott Peck wrote, “You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time.”
Intent listening may do more good than giving well-intentioned advice. Heed that fine line from Isaiah: “He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen” (Is 50:4).
Care enough to listen to those God puts in front of you.
The words “listen” and “silent”
consist of the same letters.