If you were asked to take a survey on what is the greatest asset that is needed in ministry what would be your number one answer? Would it be great Bible knowledge? Would it be great leadership skills? How about the ability to play the piano? Would it be the ability to cook a full meal for the guest minister on the same Sunday that you taught middle school Sunday School and then led worship? After so many years involved in ministry I think one of the greatest assets that I value (and am still asking for the greater fruit in my life) is simply the gift of a listening ear.

What is the listening ear? It is a person who listens with their heart as well as their mind. The perfect listening ear must be attached to the heart of God. . This listening ear comes with patience as we listen to the hurting, the confused and the discouraged. It has the ability to listen through the noise of pain with the grace of God. This listening ear, while listening to the child of God, has the ability to keep their ear tuned to the Father—so in the appropriate time God’s Words can be shared.

I want to thank the Lord for all the listening ears that have been in my life for the past few months. These past few months have been difficult for Darryl and myself. The joy and blessing of helping our African friend Victor Gomes battle his illness stretched our faith and sometimes our bodies far beyond our capacity at times. The feeling of not knowing enough, doing enough or believing enough would at times overwhelm my soul. It was at these times God always seemed to provide a listening ear. How I appreciate this gift—whether it was offered in person, over the telephone or via email. It helped lift the load and gave comfort and encouragement to continue the journey.

As I have meditated on the blessing of receiving the gift of the listening ear, I began to notice some attributes of people who had developed this gift. These are the qualities of the listening ear I would like to share with you.

Listening ears are available to whomever God brings across their path. A chance meeting at the post office, the grocery store or the bathroom at church turns into an opportunity to meet a need if we simply turn on our “listening ears”. The ultimate listening ear is no respecter of persons. The young, the old, the rich, the poor—all have need of a listening ear.

The listening ear is wise. The person with a listening ear knows that sometimes the child of God needs time to simply vent—unload their troubles. They know when it is not wise to re-hash and re-hash a hurt, but can quietly re-direct the conversation to a positive, scriptural end.

The listening ear is patient. They wait with faith and trust that God is working in the life of the speaker.

The listening ear is safe. The listening ear is a confidential ear, the heart of the speaker trusts that things shared will be kept in confidence.

The listening ear is compassionate. Jesus was motivated by compassion. This is our motivation. As we develop our listening ears we begin to truly, deeply care for the person we are talking with.

The listening ear is non-critical. Listening ears remember: Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. Proverbs 27: 5,6

Listening ears are honest. They speak the truth with love (Ephesians 4:15)

trusting that God’s Word will cause the hearer to grow in their relationship with Jesus.

Dear Sisters, how I am aware that each of these qualities are best exemplified by our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He really is the ultimate Listening Ear. Perhaps that is the best quality of a Listening Ear—the ability to point the hearer to the Father. To become a great “listening ear” we need to pattern our own listening after the Father. How does He treat us? Is he impatient? Short? Does he run avoidance patterns with us? Does He spill our secrets to others willy-nilly? No, He does not. I believe that as we love others as we have been loved, we will listen to others as we have been listened to by our Father. Then we can grow in our ability to be the Listening Ear for the Father. Jesus became flesh and dwelt among men, we are the first “flesh” that many people encounter on their journey to meet God. On the other hand, we may come across those that are weary in their journey and by listening, we may be the respite for them—a place for them to be reminded that God is there, available and waiting with His strength and grace.

Father, please help us grow in grace to become the Listening ear that can in turn become the anointed mouth to speak your Words. In Jesus Name, Amen

Written by:Martha Rodman