are you listening to God or doing all the talking?

Proverbs 2:1 “My child, listen to what I say and treasure my commands."

So often it is easy to get caught up in the pursuit of knowledge to the point that we feel more spiritual simply because we are memorizing more, reading our Bibles more and we can trade banter on various theological issues. Yet the writer of this proverb reminds us that there is a goal that is higher than the simple ascertainment of facts, figures and theories. We see first the admonishment to listen. There is no doubt nor argument that the primary way God speaks to us today is through His Word. We have become masters at reading and not listening. Each and every day the amount of homework, work, or whatever, that dumped on us has groomed us into non-listeners. We simply read for the purpose of regurgitating information which is only stored long enough to find its way onto the page of a quiz, exam or paper, or long enough for whatever presentation we have to give. The coveted grade of “A” may be achieved, the slaps on the back may happen, but a short while later we forget what we read and listening has not truly occurred.

Many approach the Word of God the same way. They read, possibly well enough to regurgitate when a question is thrown their way, but they don’t truly listen. The Hebrew word used here “leqah” means to take, seize or grasp. When you take or seize something, there would be no doubt that you have possession and mastery over that item. In the same way, to listen to the Word of God is not simply to fumble around with it or flirting with something in a superficial manner. Listening involves diving wholly and completely in with all we have and wrestling with all the capacity God has given us. That is listening.

While listening is first, it is not enough. We must also treasure His Word. Treasuring what God tells us involves more than just the mind, it involves the heart. It involves being willing to allow silence to envelop you as you let something simmer in your brain and heart for a while. Treasure indicates the idea of value, worth, esteem. Treasure is something you long for and seek after, something that is precious to you. If it is precious to you, you will look after it, care for it, see that it is kept up and tended to. Is the Word of God a treasure to you or is it simply an instrument of mental sharpening.

There are times when I find myself reading the Word and not treasuring. As a result, I am hearing but not truly listening… the Word is making no dent on my heart, only my brain and when that happens, treasuring cannot begin. We have got to learn to listen and treasure. What does it look like in your life? Do you have a time where you simply seek to listen to God? I not advocating any of the emotionally charged and out-of-balance junk that you hear some folks convince people of but I am saying that we need to stop sometimes and listen… just be quiet and listen. Then, when you begin to listen, when you begin to seize and grasp the Word of God in your hearts, you can begin to treasure it in your lives.