“No one listens,” shouted a grandmother. She continued: “My husband does not listen, so are my children, even grandchildren do not listen, servants do not listen…no one listens.” If God looks down at the earth, he will also say: No one listens. But the Bible teaches that those who heed or listen to or think over the Word will learn to trust the Lord, will find good, and will be happy. (Proverbs 16:20)
Listen: Hearing, listening or heeding the Word of God results in goodness and blessedness. The verse also teaches that there are unwise, stupid or foolish ways to listen or read the Word of God. Some think of the Bible as old woman fables, others as ancient literature, a few as an irrelevant book, and some read with the intention to criticise. They will self-destroy themselves as the Bible is the Word of God, and the Word of Life.
Trust: Those who listen to the Word, with an open mind, a devout heart, will be inspired to exercise faith. Paul writes: “So, faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) The more a person listens, reads, and meditates on the Word of God, the more will be the increase in faith.
Obey: The faith in Christ embraces the whole person: body, soul, and spirit. The whole inner person or personality is saturated with faith. If only the mind, it is just an intellectual faith. If only the emotions, then it may short-lived joyful faith. But when it involves the will, there is a resolve that leads to obedience. Sadly, many who study the bible stop either at the intellectual level or emotional level, without surrendering their wills, which are selfish.
Happy and blessed: Obedient Christians have immense joy and follow Paul’s advice: Rejoice in the Lord always. (Philippians 4:4) Because their trust is in the Eternal Lord, their joy is also eternal, filled with eternal hope. They are also blessed by the Lord with forgiveness, wisdom, love, grace, protection and provision.
Have I become wise by studying and meditating on His Word?