Food for Thought
March 31, 2008 |
When Jesus spoke with people, they had his complete attention. The Bible does not say, “And while he sanded wood and kept watch on a pot of stew, Jesus said …” He simply listened, then responded. Individually and compassionately.
In Jesus' meeting with the woman at the well—his longest one-on-one conversation ever recorded in Scripture—she was amazed a Jew was even willing to speak to a Samaritan: “How can you ask me for a drink?” (John 4:9). The disciples were taken aback, too, when they “returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman” (John 4:27).
Clearly Jesus put conversations first on his to-do list, ignoring what was politically correct or productively expedient. Nothing mattered more than this thirsty woman.
His disciples got the message: “No one asked, ‘Why are you talking with her?’” (John 4:27).
She got the message, too, putting aside her task in favor of talking to people: “Leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town …” (John 4:28).
Now it's our turn to get the message: Relationships aren't a task. Listening intently is the most valuable gift we can give. And looking into the eyes of someone we care about is time wisely spent.
Posted by Bonnie McMaken on March 31, 2008
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Comments
This type of interaction produces the best results when it’s done on purpose and with pure motives. People will generally know if its not. There are spoken and unspoken signs that will confirm it. The last two sentences of this article perfectly describe some of those signs and perhaps why it seems more like a task than a gift.
Listening intently with direct eye contact suggests honesty, understanding and sincerity. It’s meant to convey a serious interest in ones well-being and encourages a conversation about it, perhaps even help. I‘ve found that sometimes when motives are not clear that the listener ends up being the speaker wanting an ear for their problems.
Nothing is more pure than the love of God and His Word. It’s not bound by popular or political opinion. It comes from the heart and flows seamlessly into the hearts of others. People generally respond to the messages they receive.
Posted by: Sharon Johnson on June 12, 2008