Listening

My last post listed a few books that I am reading. As I mentioned I always want to be a learner. The day after I wrote that post I read a tweet from a good friend of mine by the name of Steve Miller. For you 40 somethings  he is not the guy from the Steve Miller Band. Here is his tweet.

“The best way to engage people is to listen. Problem is most of the time “we aren’t listening, we’re reloading.”

I did not like his tweet. I did not push the unfollow button though. I did not like it because it hit too close to home.  Am I really trying to engage people in conversation or am I just wanting them to listen to me or read my ideas or posts or tweets?

I am finding for me that I have the tendency to talk more than to listen, to write more than I read and to want to lead more than to follow. This usually underscores how important that I think I am. This is a problem. So just to drive the point home for me this morning as I was reading in the book of John.

The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. John 7:18 ESV

I need to listen more.

I need to read more.

Thanks Steve for your tweet.

Thank you Lord Jesus for your words.

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30