Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”
Luke 8:18 NIV
How good of a listener are you? I have to confess that I am not always that great at it. Sometimes, the conversations inside my head seem more interesting than outside conversations. Other times, I am too busy formulating a response to something that was said to pay careful attention to what is being said now. When either of those two things happens, I miss much of what is being said. And I am unable to respond appropriately to it.
Be a Careful Listener
So when Jesus says to me, “Consider carefully how you listen,” he is telling me to pay close attention and block out the distractions. But he wants me to do more than just hear what he says. He wants me to consider carefully what I have heard. And that implies that I also need to respond appropriately to his words.
“Whoever has will be given more.” The one who has carefully listened to Jesus’ words, thoughtfully considered their implications, and responded appropriately, will be given more. If you want to grow ever deeper in God’s word and its message for your life, you need to be putting into practice what you already know. Only then will you be given more.
But the one who fails to carefully consider what they hear will lose even what they think they have. It is not enough simply to listen to what Jesus says and think all is well with your soul. Because it is not (Matt. 7:26-27).
Do you want to grow in your faith? Then listen carefully to what God has to say to you. Pay attention. Put his instruction into practice (Matt. 7:24-25). And you will be given more.
