A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!

Proverbs 15:23

A good reply pleases the one speaking and the one hearing. But there’s only one way to give a good reply: by being attentive. Christians should be good listeners.

A person who is able to listen will be a better conversation partner than the most knowledgeable person. Believe me, I know from my own mistakes! A person who wants to be heard for being more morally correct or knowledgeable or funny will always rate far lower than a person who speaks after hearing and appreciating their conversation partner’s position.

When we have achieved that, and only after that, can our knowledge and experience be useful to the listener and to us as the speaker. Understanding the listener is the most important part of communication. Only then can we provide that satisfying, apt reply.

Ethan Kirl