“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19)
This morning, at breakfast with friends, we discussed the spiritual exercise of submission and someone mentioned James 1:19. Imagine stepping into your home where your spouse begins to vent and accuse…QUICK! Close your mouth and listen! Think you’ve got a response to tirade that is assaulting you…WAIT! Slow down; don’t speak yet. Give it some time or you will probably regret what you say – that conversation is going to take some unexpected turns and, more than likely, you won’t end up where you thought you would.
You drink your tea till it’s empty in a restaurant, only then to notice the milk that had dried into the crevasse at the bottom from some previous customer. You are repulsed. You feel the emotions rising quickly inside and…WAIT! Slow to anger. Slow to speak. You have already paid the price for someone else’s negligence, but don’t let that control your character.
This is submitting to others when you have a sense of power or rights at stake. This is aligning your will and freedom with God’s will and freedom.
How do you submit to your spouse or your children or anyone who should serve you?
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2 comments:
The temptation is always to react...instead of giving it some thought and, then, being proactive. Being proactive can and should take place in any or all of our relationships. The principle of submission, once again...and as you suggest...should guide us. I have had to train myself against the natural inclination "to flare up" in reaction. It is still a significant challenge, as there are certain "hot buttons" that others can push and that Satan can manipulate. With regard to our family, we have been training ourselves -- not to sweat the small stuff, and to be respectful and thoughtful in relationship to one another. We do have our provocative moments, but we strive to live lovingly and transparently with one another...and this has made a great, positive difference for us. Blessings, Don
Thanks, Don. Very thoughtful comment.
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