Let those who have ears…
The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as love to God begins with listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for our brothers and sisters is learning to listen to them. Christians, especially ministers, so often think they must always contribute something when they are in the company of others. They forget that listening can be a greater service than speaking. Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They do not find it among Christians, because these Christians are talking where they should be listening. But the person who can no longer listen to others will soon be no longer listening to God either. This is the beginning of the death of the spiritual life, and in th end there is nothing left but spiritual chatter and clerical condescension arrayed in pious works. Christians have forgotten that the ministry of listening has been committed to them by the One who is the great listener and whose work they should share. We should listen with ears of God that we may speak the Word of God. ~~Dietrich Bonhoeffer
