reasonable, not defensive, not sensitive…

we are taking here on the front porch the  “am i wise?” test from james 3.17.  how are you doing?  are you honest, do you get along with others, and are you considerate with other’s feeling?   hold in there here is the next one.  james 3.17 (msg), it is…reasonable.

so, are you always critical?  if you are then you are not wise.  a wise person can learn from anybody.  they are not defensive.  they’re open to reason.  they’re not stubborn.  they are willing to listen and learn.  how are you doing on this one?

now this word is used only one time in the new testament.   the word, reasonable - willing to listen, willing to be open to ideas and suggestions.

the living bible says, it allows discussion  it’s easy to be entreated.  so are you a reasonable person?  can your kids reason with you?  how about those people at work?  the bible says if you’re wise, you’re reasonable, you’re opened to suggestions.

or are you, “hey, don’t confuse me with the facts.  i’ve made up my mind.  when i want your opinion, i’ll give it to you.” 

a wise person is not defensive.  most of us are way too sensitive, we are overly sensitive.  if somebody makes a suggestion we take it as a personal criticism and we’re defensive.  james says that’s dumb.  a wise person can learn from anybody.

a new pastor preaches his first sermon and then after it was over a guy walks up to him and says, “pastor, that sermon stunk”.  now the pastor tries to be reasonable and wise so he says, “what didn’t you like about it?”  the guy said, “well, in the first place you read it.  in the second place you read it poorly and in the third place it wasn’t worth reading in the first places.”  another guy walks up and says, “ pastor, don’t listen to old jim.  he just repeats what he hears everybody else say.”  that didn't help.

if you’re wise you’ll be open to suggestions.  don’t criticize, don’t get defensive.  proverbs 12.15 (msg), fools are headstrong and do what they like; wise people take advice.

if it’s true, listen and learn from it.  if it’s false, ignore it and forget it.  if i’m wise i’ll be open to reason.  i won’t criticize your suggestions, i’ll listen to them.

just a thought from the front porch…