It is common for bad things to happen as a result of people not listening. Sometimes people get hurt or die. And for some it is the difference between heaven and hell.It is crucial that we learn to listen.
There is a well-known story that after several years in office as president, Franklin Roosevelt grew tired of the long receiving lines where he would have to greet the guests at White House functions. He felt like the people weren’t really interested, but going through the motions. To test his theory, he began greeting guests by quietly saying something outrageous. His favorite line was, “I murdered my grandmother this morning.” The guests would respond with things like, “Wonderful. Keep up the good work!” which indicated that they truly were not listening. Finally the Bolivian Ambassador came through the line and actually heard Roosevelt’s remark. He leaned down and whispered back, “I’m sure she had it coming.”
Dr. Paul Chappell wrote:”One of the primary indicators of wisdom in a person’s life is that he is willing to listen rather than thinking he already knows it all. There is much information missed and much pain and damage incurred simply because people do not listen. God has given us in His Word “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). Yet He also sadly says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).
Though there are countries where copies of the Word of God are hard to come by and churches are few and far between, most of us have multiple Bibles in our homes and on our electronic devices. And very few Christians here in the United States must drive hours to get to a good church. The problem is not a lack of availability of instruction in wisdom, but rather a lack of hearing. Because we are not willing to hear and heed the Scriptures, our churches, families, and lives are suffering as a result. If you desire God’s wisdom, commit yourself to listening to His Word.—Focus on listening to the voice of God through the pages of Scripture, and you will obtain the wisdom you need for your life.”
