Quick to Anger, Quick to Speak and Slow to Listen…Oops!

 You know the bible verse "Quick to Anger, Quick to Speak and Slow to Listen…" Wait a minute, that's not what James 1:19 says "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" 

Yesterday I almost lived out the first version of this verse. I found myself in two frustrating situations and if I would have lived out James 1:19… I would have spared myself that frustration.

Instead of being “Quick to Listen” I turned my Charlie Brown hearing on. Hearing what the other person is saying, but not listening is what got me in trouble in the first place.

Instead of being “Slow to Speak” I started speaking before I knew all the facts, a bad idea pretty much 99% of the time.

Instead of being “Slow to Anger” I was angry from the beginning.

With these three ingredients, I was well on my way to making a fool of myself. Thankfully, at the last minute God stepped in. Just a gentle reminder that I am to be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” I decided to give God the benefit of the doubt because well, He is God.

I’m glad I did. As each situation unfolded, I realized that one was a misunderstanding and the second was my fault. I felt like a bum, but I was thankful that God spared me from what would have been two very awkward apologies. Hopefully next time, I'll handle it God's way first.