Listen Like a Christian (James 1:19-20)
- Greg Palys
- Oct 12
- 3 min read
...let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; ²⁰for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. —James 1:19-20
Many of us are trying to figure out how to live in a culture that so flagrantly violates God’s commands. And yet many of us are tempted to take up the same weapons the culture uses to “fight fire with fire.” As Christians, we should want to be countercultural. But what would that even look like?
We live in an era when social media and 24-hour news encourage the hot take and the quick response. This environment rewards the loudest voices, the biggest self-promoters, and the most inflammatory statements. We Christians can slide into this way of communicating as well if we let ourselves be washed with the world instead of the Word.
James shows us a better way. He says, “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”
“Quick to hear” stands in contrast to our instincts. How often have we thought that we have someone pegged by their words, their associations, or the side they’re on, and used that as an excuse to believe the worst about them? Instead, Scripture calls us to assume that we don’t have all the information (Proverbs 18:17) and to take the posture of a learner. Doing so shows that we consider the other person to be an image-bearer and reflects the same gracious posture God has shown toward us.
“Slow to speak” is the other side of listening quickly. When we are quick to hear, we are necessarily slow to speak (Proverbs 18:13). Being slow to speak does not mean never speaking. Rather, it means refraining from defending ourselves and making judgments until we have heard the other party out. This takes humility and self-control. But when we are patient to gain all the information, then we can discern and respond rightly.
“Slow to anger” is not as obviously related to the previous two. But when we are slow to hear and quick to speak, we are more inclined to make rash judgments (Proverbs 14:29). How many times have you said something in anger that you later regretted? How many times could you have avoided that if you had simply asked more questions or waited to respond?
This is indeed a better way. But it is a hard way! These commands are not simply addressed to our current cultural issues; rather, they are aimed at timeless problems with our hearts.
Verse 20 tells us why we are to be slow to anger: it “does not produce the righteousness of God.” The sinful response of anger cannot lead to a godly outcome. Nor does it come from a godly source: quick triggers and short fuses are products of self-righteousness and, ultimately, foolishness (Proverbs 11:12; 17:28).
Do you want to be countercultural? Work out your salvation through your tongue. A Christian with a quick tongue may win an argument. But a slow tongue will win hearts (Proverbs 16:32).
For Reflection
When was the last time you got angry? What were you wanting? (James 4:1-2)
What could you have done differently to avoid reacting sinfully?
What practices can you put in place to be quick to listen and slow to speak?
Greg Palys is a pastor at College Park Church in Indianapolis, IN, primarily overseeing ministry to children and their families. He and Sarah have five children: Ruth, Ezekiel, James, Eden, and Luke.
