Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you. (Ecclesiastes 7:21)This is a wonderful example of Ancient Near East humor and wisdom rolled into one. First the writer warns that if we strain our ears listening for someone to praise us, we might just hear someone maligning us instead. If we would have minded our own business we wouldn't have heard the praise, but then we wouldn't have heard the insult either. And, who are we kidding? Even a dozen accolades can't take the sting out of one insult.
Reminds me of a pastor I know who had just finished preaching and was standing at the back door shaking hands. Several people told him they enjoyed the sermon, and he was rather enjoying it. Then a man walked up and asked, Is that the best you can do?
And part of what makes this all so funny is that we've done exactly the same thing. The writer continues: ...for you know in your heart that you yourself have cursed others (v. 22).
But it sounded so innocent when I said it about him, and so mean when he said it about me.
Listen hard enough, and you're guaranteed to hear something that hurts your feelings. And face it: There's only one opinion that really counts.
Who are you listening to?
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