Category: He Who Has Ears
It is not a mere suggestion, but a divine command that we are to be quick to listen and slow to speak. The most explicit record of this fiat is in the first chapter of James. As any parent of toddlers knows, this does not come naturally.
It is hard to listen when our mouths are moving. Like pressing the brake pedal and the gas pedal at the same time, one of them has to give. What we demonstrate when we talk while someone else is talking is that we really don't care what she is saying, or we have already figured out where this is going and so there is no need to allow her to finish. Yeah, yeah, I got it. Now it's time for my eloquent and monumental response. It's rude. It's selfish. It's sin.
But it takes more than just keeping the mouth shut because we are perfectly capable of keeping this commandment externally while inside we are chattering away. The real goal is love and humility. We should have an affection and respect for others such that we place a high value on what they say. And we ought to be humble enough to believe that our fellow conversationalist may actually be saying something worthy of hearing. We are sure to miss it, however, if we are too busy formulating our next paragraph.
Being quick to listen and slow to speak takes effort. For some, it is a Herculean task. But the chance to practice occurs dozens of times every day. And it is one of the most obvious ways that we regard others as more important than ourselves and treat others the way we want to be treated.
As the saying goes, "Today will provide you with many opportunities to keep your mouth shut. Take advantage of most of them."