How Well Do You Listen?

"For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you...I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it" (I Cor. 1:11; 11:18). Paul listened.

When sincere people need you, are you willing to listen? It matters not whether it is a personal problem, a question of doctrine, or sin in one's life. If someone wants your attention, are you willing to listen?

How many times has one left a conversation with you feeling that you did not listen? What can you do to convince one that you have listened?

1. Give him your full attention. If you are preoccupied, you cannot listen well.

2. Make eye contact with him.

3. Try to understand his concern. Is it serious, trivial, does it involve sin, family, the church, myself, or himself?

4. Express your concept of his concern in your own words.

5. Be careful in expressing your evaluation of that which concerns him.

6. Use the word of God in helping him understand why you think as you do.

7. Pray before you go your separate ways.