Two Basic Attitudes

There are really just two basic attitudes in the matter of hearing. One is the attitude of the closed mind. It is an attitude of stubbornness on many occasions, with man's pride closing the door of his heart. Often, it is also a matter of his being too busy. There is an interesting story about Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat. Napoleon, busy with his own plans, said that he could give Fulton only two minutes of his time. These two minutes were hardly enough time for Fulton to talk convincingly of the possibility of the steamboat.  Napoleon was not convinced. How different the outcome of his invasion of England might have been if he had only taken more time to hear Fulton talk of his strange invention. How different the lives of many might be and how different their eternal destiny, if they would only take more time to listen when God speaks.

The other attitude is that of the open mind. It is an attitude of willingness to consider whatever is presented. It is and attitude involving the willingness to take time for whatever one is called upon to examine. In 1 Thessalonians 5:21 the apostle Paul wrote, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." The best advice we can give is to prove or examine all things and then accept that which is good.

Preaching involves a double responsibility. To the preacher, there is the responsibility to know God's word, to keep himself a fit channel for its proclamation, and to declare God's truth clearly and faithfully. There is also a responsibility on the part of the listener,

To the hearer, the responsibility is to attend to the message carefully, to understand what God's will is, and then to obey God's commands.

As Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."  Matthew 7:21.

---    Batsell Barrett Baxter

Family of God