In my composition class yesterday, I handed out a carefully crafted quiz. Every week, I administer a “quick quiz” for them to complete within the first 5-7 minutes of class, but this one was different. I had put very specific directions underneath the title: “Read all the way through before answering any questions.” Hidden in the text of the final question, it read, “After you read this question, only answer questions three and four on this quiz, then write your name at the top of your paper.” As soon as I saw every student tearing into questions 1 and 2, I knew they had failed to read the directions. In fact, they all admitted that they hadn’t even looked at the directions.
This might seem like a disaster, but the entire point of the quiz was to teach one lesson: read directions. Every year I’ve taught, I’ve had multiple students fail to read assignments (or read them, only to blow them off when they’re confused). The quiz result provided an excellent opportunity to discuss the importance of listening well and asking clarifying questions. I was delighted to observe that the lesson was not lost on them; for the remainder of the class, they were more willing than ever to ask questions when they did not understand fully.
Far too often I myself have been guilty of failing to follow directions because I was in a hurry or, frankly, because I thought the directions would take too much time. For example, I’ve started to prepare dinner only to discover the meat needed to marinate for 6 hours. I’ve been guilty of mixing up a dessert dish for the evening, and then read, “chill mixture overnight.” Obviously, failing to follow directions in cooking isn’t as dire as failing to read the terms of a loan or ignoring directions on a medicine bottle. Far greater repercussions ensue when we decide to ignore God’s sound wisdom and plunge recklessly along our own paths.
Failing to listen is consequential, but speaking recklessly is just as destructive. God provides sound wisdom in the book of James: “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1.19, ESV) To speak carefully requires practiced, intentional effort. The scriptures provide ample examples of people whose mouths tangled them in difficulties. Adam, Eve, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Job, Peter (and many more) all found themselves in trouble at some point because they spoke without careful thought as to the consequences. Be careful what you say.
For the month of October, we’ll be writing through Proverbs 15–along with a few complementary passages–because several of the verses in this chapter deal with the necessity of listening carefully and speaking judiciously. I hope you’ll join us as we consider this section of scripture!
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Special thanks to my sisters in Christ, Liz Smith and Sara McBroom, who provide their wisdom and support each month.
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