Speed

 James 1:19 ESV

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 


I was chatting some some friends about names and their meanings. One friend's name is apparently from the Apache meaning 'quiet one'. We're all to be quiet ones in the sense that we speedily listen to others.

James isn't being dictatorial here, even as he commands certain things. He addresses his 'beloved brethren' (gender neutral in the Greek). He wants his brothers and sisters to know that he's coming from a place of love.

We shouldn't just listen to respond. We should just listen. If necessary of course we can speak in response, but we don't always need to have the last word.

Interestingly, James doesn't just point blank say 'don't get angry'. He's saying not to be quick tempered. Anger isn't necessarily sinful per se.

'Dear Lord, thank you for the reminder of how beloved we are in your family. Help us heed the call to slow down and listen rather than just go in all guns blazing. For your glory we ask this, amen'.

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