Do you know of anyone who has a listening problem? Notice I did not ask about a hearing problem. Many people have ears that work quite well; nevertheless, they are very selective in what they hear.
King Edward VII of England and his grandson, Prince David, had a good relationship. Still David was a child, and adults in England during this period, were not known to listen to children.
At dinner on one occasion little David tried to get his grandfather’s attention. He was reprimanded immediately for interrupting the king’s conversation at table. So the young prince sat in slience until given permission to speak. When he was allowed finally to address his grandfather, he said, “It’s too late now, grandpapa. It was a caterpillar on your lettuce but you’ve eaten it.”
It really does pay to listen but authentic listening is rare. You’ve heard that saying that God gave us two ears but only one mouth indicating that God wanted us to spend twice as much time listening as talking. However, it could be that God gave us two ears and one mouth because listening is twice as hard as talking!
The Season in the church year known as Lent is close. During the Season of Lent this year my preaching will center on the words of Jesus. What did Jesus have to say to those persons he met as the cross drew near? Did they listen to what Jesus had to say and for that matter how is our hearing……oops I mean listening.
This Sunday my sermon is titled, Do You Know How To Listen?
Do you know of anyone who has a listening problem? Notice I did not ask about a hearing problem. Many people have ears that work quite well; nevertheless, they are very selective in what they hear.
King Edward VII of England and his grandson, Prince David, had a good relationship. Still David was a child, and adults in England during this period, were not known to listen to children.
At dinner on one occasion little David tried to get his grandfather’s attention. He was reprimanded immediately for interrupting the king’s conversation at table. So the young prince sat in slience until given permission to speak. When he was allowed finally to address his grandfather, he said, “It’s too late now, grandpapa. It was a caterpillar on your lettuce but you’ve eaten it.”
It really does pay to listen but authentic listening is rare. You’ve heard that saying that God gave us two ears but only one mouth indicating that God wanted us to spend twice as much time listening as talking. However, it could be that God gave us two ears and one mouth because listening is twice as hard as talking!
The Season in the church year known as Lent is close. During the Season of Lent this year my preaching will center on the words of Jesus. What did Jesus have to say to those persons he met as the cross drew near? Did they listen to what Jesus had to say and for that matter how is our hearing……oops I mean listening.
This Sunday my sermon is titled, Do You Know How To Listen?