How is Your Hearing?

by Sarah
from Virtuous Daughters, December 2013~Volume 13, Number 9

“Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” {Isaiah 30:21}

Dear Sisters,

Have you ever had your hearing tested? Do you ever wonder if you need to have it tested—like when you keep forgetting what your mom told you to do this morning—or didn’t even hear her tell you to do it? We all have a problem at times with our listening skills, but I think for most of us it is not because we cannot physically hear, but because we do not turn our minds “on” when our parents are speaking to us.

Have you ever thought of what good listeners some men were in the Bible—take, for example, Noah. God gave him very specific instructions on how to build the ark. He must have listened very closely, for he obeyed every detailed command and even included them in the Word of God for us to read today. This was vitally important in his case, because if he would not have listened carefully to God’s commands, he and his whole family might have drowned in the flood! Take Moses as another example. In Exodus 40, the Lord gave him some very precise commands for the detailed completion of the tabernacle. Imagine if Moses had just sat there picking his teeth with a toothpick as God gave him the details. Then—when it was time to get to work, he realized that he forgot what the laver would be made of and where exactly it should be placed in the tabernacle layout! Can you imagine him missing some major detail, and then going back to God with the excuse, “I didn’t hear You the first time….where did You want the ark of the covenant to go again?” We do not see this type of laziness or lack of concern in the life of Moses, however. He listened closely to God’s Words and directions and went about God's work in orderly, reverential obedience.

So how closely do you listen? Are you ever “hard of hearing”? Sometimes I wonder if my hearing is worse than it should be at my age...I'm not that old yet, right?! Once I was around a family whose children listened very closely to their parents’ voice with an intent to obey and honor the expressed commands. It was obvious that they honored their father and mother through listening closely. They were very attentive to their parents’ voices and desires. They didn’t “turn off” their hearing when mom or dad started speaking, or just lazily nod their heads. So how closely do you listen to your dad and mom when they are talking or giving instructions?

What is the difference between just hearing words spoken and listening to words spoken? Think about it for a minute. For example, if your dad is giving instructions, you can “listen” in two ways: just thinking, “Oh yeah, that’s some good advice he has there! Someone should do what he just suggested!” or you can listen with the attitude, “Dad is going to say something important to me and I need to show him that I honor his role in my life of a wise parent. How can I help him with a good attitude, as unto the Lord, by listening carefully?” There is a “lazy hearing” attitude, and a “careful, respectful listening” attitude. It will be obvious which attitude we have when we are listening; if we care about what someone is saying, our eyes will tell whether we are truly listening, and of course this will ultimately show whether we are honoring them or not.

Listening with a goal of obedience is an important part of listening carefully. We must have a heart-will to obey the things our parents express and a genuine open mind to what they are saying. This means we will show true interest and honor as we are commanded in Exodus 20:12: “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” Half-eared listening will most likely result in half-hearted obedience, sloppy work, or complete disobedience.

As Christian daughters, we likely were taught to listen and obey our parents as children. Why has this been a crucial part of our upbringing—just so that our home is kept in order and everyone is happy? No, there is much more to it than that. The Lord desires us to learn obedience and attentiveness to our parents as very real, practical preparation for the future. We ultimately are to obey our heavenly Father’s voice and will for us (Matthew 7:21), and so, we were taught to listen and obey as children, so that we will be obedient, attentive servants to the Lord Most High. What a high calling! We need to be trained in immediate listening and obedience, so that we can honor our Savior by promptly responding to His voice.

If we have been lazy for twenty-five years about listening to our parents—sitting on the couch with one ear “hearing” and the other ear firmly decided on what we think is the best choice—then we will NOT know how to listen or obey God when He asks much harder things of us. We must take these opportunities seriously today, with the intent of learning to truly listen, so that one day we will know the still quiet voice of our Father (Isaiah 30:21) and obey it.

Ask the Lord to teach you how to listen to your parents’ voices promptly and to truly take an interest in their will. Have an attitude of submitting your own plans or desires for what they say—not what you think is best. (This can be easy to do, especially when we get older and think our ideas are better.) When you go into a conversation with an open mind, desiring and yearning to hear your parents’ advice, then your obedience will be much more whole-hearted and honoring to the Lord. Train your mind to listen with both ears!

Listening to, obeying, and serving the Lord Jesus Christ is our life’s purpose—thus, let us not scoff the day of small beginnings—the “little” daily things in which we must listen to our parents’ instruction and wisdom (Matthew 25:23). Take initiative and a desire to listen and be open “to your father’s will,” just as Christ did. He said, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me” (John 6:38).

“Lord Jesus, please teach me to be obedient and attentive to Your words and will for my life in the things my parents express for me. Please teach me humility so I am focused on what they say to me and give me a heart that is open to receive their words, so that I may more fully honor You.”