HEARING ONLY

013 – SEPTEMBER 2004

FORGETFUL HEARING.

MATTHEW 7:24-27 THEREFORE, WHOEVER HEARS THESE SAYINGS OF MINE, AND DOETH THEM, I WILL LIKEN HIM UNTO A WISE MAN, WHICH BUILT HIS HOUSE ON A ROCK
AND THE RAIN DESCENDED, AND THE FLOODS CAME AND THE WINDS BLEW, AND BEAT UPON THAT HOUSE; AND IT FELL NOT: FOR IT WAS FOUNDED ON A ROCK.
AND EVERY ONE WHO HEARS THESE SAYINGS OF MINE, AND DOETH THEM NOT, SHALL BE LIKENED UNTO A FOOLISH MAN, WHICH BUILT HIS HOUSE UPON THE SAND:
AND THE RAIN DESCENDED, AND THE FLOODS CAME AND THE WINDS BLEW, AND BEAT UPON THAT HOUSE; AND IT FELL: AND GREAT WAS THE FALL OF IT.”

IT’S NOT A MATTER OF HEARING - BUT A MATTER OF HEARING AND DOING!
AFTER WE HAVE HEARD THE RULES AND GUIDELINES FOR PEACEFUL LIVING, I WONDER WHY WE DO JUST OPPOSITE. I WONDER WHY WE DO THE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD NOT.

THE OTHER DAY, I CALLED A FRIEND. I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS ANNOYED WITH A PARTICULAR SOMEONE AND I LAID OUT MY SO-VERY-WISE INTENTIONS TO CORRECT THE OFFENDING PARTY. MY FRIEND TOLD ME THE WISE THING TO DO. HE TOLD ME TO “DROP IT.”
YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR HEALTH AND YOUR FAITH – THEY ARE THE IMPORTANT THINGS OF LIFE. WELL, I KNOW THAT! I’VE HEARD THAT MANY TIMES. I’VE EVEN PREACHED IT. YET, I WAS ANNOYED … OVER SOMETHING THAT DIDN’T EVEN MATTER.
OF COURSE, I DROPPED IT - BUT I WONDER WHY I WAS ANNOYED IN THE FIRST PLACE. IN COMPARISON TO THE IMPORTANT THINGS OF LIFE, IT WAS SUCH A TRIVIAL THING.

I STILL FIND MYSELF SLITHERING INTO CONVERSATION THAT IS NEGATIVE. I BEGIN TO SPEAK ABOUT THINGS THAT I SHOULD NOT. SOMETIMES I MUST FEEL THAT A CONVERSATION WILL JUST NOT BE EFFECTIVE WITHOUT MY DISCERNING INPUT. GAG ME! REALLY! … JUST GAG ME!
I ONCE HEARD A PERSON SAY “YOU CAN BE CRITIC OR YOU CAN BE A SERVANT.” WELL, I KNOW THAT! I’VE HEARD THAT MANY TIMES. I’VE EVEN PREACHED IT.
OF COURSE, I CAME TO MY SENSES - BUT I WONDER WHY ENLISTED INTO THAT CONVERSATION IN THE FIRST PLACE.

JUST THE OTHER DAY I GRANTED SOMEONE AN UNUSUAL REQUEST. IT WAS A REQUEST THAT I THOUGHT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN MADE (NOR GRANTED) BUT I CORRECTLY MINISTERED KINDNESS TO THE PERSON. I GRANTED THE REQUEST AND THEN … I FRUSTRATED THAT TRIUMPH OF GRACE BY ADDING A LECTURE TO THE PERSON. I CONTINUED TO YAP. DO YOU EVER WISH THAT YOU WOULD JUST BE QUIET AND KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT?
THINK ABOUT THIS - “GOD GAVE US 2 EARS AND ONE MOUTH AND WE NEED TO USE THEM IN THAT PROPORTION.” WELL, I KNOW THAT! I’VE HEARD THAT MANY TIMES. I’VE EVEN PREACHED IT.
OF COURSE, I FELT BADLY AFTER - BUT I WONDER WHY IT SEEMED SO IMPORTANT AT THE TIME … TO CORRECT THIS PERSON.

IT’S NOT A MATTER OF HEARING BUT A MATTER OF HEARING AND DOING! … BECAUSE WE SURE HAVE HEARD ENOUGH … HAVEN’T WE?
I’VE HEARD IT. I KNOW IT. I’VE EVEN PREACHED IT. I NEED TO REMEMBER … AND DO IT!

JAMES 1:25 “… HE BEING NOT A FORGETFUL HEARER, BUT A DOER OF THE WORK, THIS MAN SHALL BE BLESSED BY HIS DEED.”