Quick to Hear, Slow to Speak
By Dean Collins
Sometimes it would be better to simply bite your tongue. Yes, it will be hard and you may have facts that you think someone needs to know, but there is a high likelihood that you also don’t know all of the situation the other person is dealing with that has prompted their action or inaction. And sadly, sometimes we speak not so much to help a person but to make sure they know just how smart we are.
In chapters 32 through 37, we meet a new character in Job’s story. After Job’s three friends sparred with Job and Job gave his final word to them, we meet a new character. Elihu is introduced as a much younger person than Job and his friends. Elihu was upset at the weakness of the “older and wiser” men who had failed to answer Job. He confessed in his early comments that out of respect he had bit his tongue, but now he just couldn’t hold back. He was angry at what he perceived as Job’s denial and ego as he interacted with his three friends. Elihu also was sure that Job was out of line in how he spoke about God.
Elihu had some self-awareness when he said he was about to burst because he had so much to say:
“I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion. For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me. Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst. I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.”
When we feel so angry and so confident that we have to add our opinion, that might be a good time to hold back, take a breath, and even offer a prayer before we speak, post, comment, or even give a thumbs up to what someone else has said in person or online.
Elihu was so bold as to speak for God:
“Bear with me a little, and I will show you, for I have yet something to say on God’s behalf. I will get my knowledge from afar and ascribe righteousness to my Maker. For truly my words are not false; one who is perfect in knowledge is with you.”
In the New Testament, the book of James offers us some guidance for moments when we are ready to blurt it out: “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” Later James also wrote, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.” Again, taking a breath, offering a prayer, and even praying for the person we are sure we need to correct might be a much wiser path than attempting to speak for God.
It is interesting that no one responds to Elihu after his self-righteous speech. Job doesn’t comment. The three older friends make no comment. I suspect that Elihu didn’t accomplish much, other than blowing off some steam. Job wasn’t comforted, and no one was corrected. As hard as it is in our social media world, we simply do not need to comment. When we find ourselves constantly needing to put our voice in the conversation, that might be the perfect time for a period of fasting from engagement in the hyper-intense world of social media.
Father, give us the wisdom to know when we need to restrain ourselves from speaking and posting. Search our hearts and teach us how we are to connect with others who are in need, as well as how we are to interact with people with whom we disagree. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Job 32:1-7, 17-22, 33:9-18, 31-33, 34:34-37, 36:1-4; James 1:19, 21, 26, 3:1-2 ESV
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