We’ve all been in a conversation in which one person is waiting for you to take a breath so they can interject. They’re not listening. Their mission is to turn the subject of the conversation back to them. It is frustrating. It is rude. And I probably do it to others more than I’d like to admit.

Scripture commands us to be “quick to hear, slow to speak” (James 1:19). Why? Well, it is a way to show love for your neighbor. To listen takes time—your time. It communicates that you value them. But it also reminds us that we are dependent creatures and should be humble. We don’t know it all. We need others. And ultimately, we need God. Paul tells us that “Faith comes by hearing…” (Romans 10:17). To be slow to hear can have eternal consequences.

How do we “hear” online? We use our eyes. We read articles, blog posts, and status updates. We also use our minds. We consider the context of an author’s words and chew over them to ensure we have “heard” them correctly. Or at least, that’s what we should do. If James were writing today, perhaps he would call us to be quick to read and slow to comment.

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