Oh Be Careful...

Some of us grew up with the kid’s song:

Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear,
Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear.
There’s a Father up above looking down in tender love,
Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear.

This is vital spiritual advice for kids AND adults. We are to be careful listeners – “swift to hear” (Jam 1:19); listening carefully before we respond (Pro 18:13); with hears that want to hear truth that leads to real knowledge (Pro 18:15).

So, we need to “Take heed what you hear” (Mk 4:24) and, “Take heed how you hear” (Lk 8:18). Not everything is good for us to listen to. Ungodly music, swearing and cursing, gossip and false teaching are unhealthy to our thinking and spiritual minds. We need to turn these off, stop conversations, and choose to abandon things that aren’t right or true.

How we listen matters too. We listen with hearts that love with is good and true and right. We listen with hearts that love God and others. We want the best and so we try to think the best and put the best meaning to what we hear (1 Cor 13:4-7).

The Scriptures often uses the phrase: “Let him who has ears to hear let him hear…” (Ex: Rev 2:7). Basically it means, if you really want to know, if you’re really interested in Truth, you better listen. Of all things, it’s most important to hear God’s word. Yes, we can read it (that’s a form of hearing), but I’m an advocate of actually hearing it. That happens in Bible studies and sermons, but there is great value in just hearing the Scriptures read – whether it be in public reading of Scripture (1 Tim 4:13) or your phone or tablet playing Scripture audio. Really listen to the Word of God.

“Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it.” (Pro 8:33).

We need to fill our minds with good by listening to what is good. That will require that we be thoughtful and careful because: “There’s a Father up above looking down in tender love, Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear.”            dd