On Guarding Our Ears
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles, uncategorized
The inspired writer Solomon gives us some sage advice when he states:
“Do not take to heart everything people say, Lest you hear your servant cursing you, For many times, also, your own heart has known That even you have cursed others” (Ecclesiastes 7:21-22).
From our study of the New Testament, we know that James reminds us to guard our tongue — to be careful of what we say — and we would do well to heed that inspired advice (James 3:1-13). But God’s word also advises us to guard our ears:
“Take heed what you hear” (Mark 4:24) and “Take heed how you hear” (Luke 8:18).
Equally important are the times when we should not “hear” what we hear. For example, we must have the tolerance of soul to disregard ugly things we have heard said against us (Isaiah 53:7; cf. Matthew 26:63; Matthew 27:12; Matthew 27:14; 1 Peter 2:23).
Brethren and friends, we do not have to bark back like a dog at every snarl we receive. We are made in the image of God, with the capacity to love our enemies and to forgive (Matthew 5:43-48 ; Luke 17:3-5). It is not a sign of weakness to not respond to everything we hear. One thing we should consider, is that the “chip on-his-shoulder” fellow is usually weak and unsure of himself, and feels threatened by every dart.
Solomon’s advice in Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 has an spiritual backdrop: We are to forgive others because we ourselves are in need of forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15; cf. Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). Having wronged no one, God is the ultimate example of tolerance and long suffering (2 Peter 3:9). Even though God was sinned against time and time again, He still gave His sinless Son to die for you and me (John 3:16-17).
We can thank God that His justice is tempered with mercy (Luke 6:35-36), and through Christ, our sins are remembered against us no more (Jeremiah 31:31-34; cf. Hebrews 8:10-12; Hebrews 10:16-17).
Thus those of us who would be recipients of God’s mercy must respond like our Lord:
“who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:23).
Therefore, we are to “not take to heart everything people say” (Ecclesiastes 7:21).