Listening

One of the lessons a serving ones of the Lord should learn is "listening." In fact this is one of the character traits mentioned by brother Watchman Nee in his book, "The Character of the Lord's Workers." Many times, listening is a big test for many workers of the Lord. This time, I am also learning this lesson.

A brother who had been in legal trouble over his marital problem, whom I had warned of his decision for remarriage to an unbeliever, went ahead to make his own decision. Despite making such a gross mistake I still did my best to shepherd him whenever possible. In fact, I even attended his marriage and prayed that the Lord would gain him through all situation. I warned him on three important points, the main one of which was not to be unequally yoked with an unbeliever. 

2 Corinthians 6:14Do not become dissimilarly yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
Note from the Recovery Version: Dissimilarly means diversely, implying a difference in kind. This refers to Deut. 22:10, which forbids the yoking together of two dissimilar animals. Believers and unbelievers are diverse peoples. Because of their divine nature and holy standing, the believers should not be yoked together with the unbelievers. This should be applied to all intimate relationships between believers and unbelievers, not only to marriage and business.

This word indicates that the Corinthian believers were dissimilarly yoked with unbelievers, not separated unto God from worldly people. This means that they were not fully reconciled to God. Hence, the apostle exhorted them not to be dissimilarly yoked with unbelievers but to be separated that they might be fully reconciled, brought back, to God.

Though I wished that he can be a channel of blessing to his wife and family, as expected , things really did not turn out well. Despite the outward facade of good and modern lifestyle, there indeed was no oneness as a proper couple should have. For oneness can be achieved only by both being in Christ. Therefore unequal yoking cannot indeed bring about oneness. The ultimate issue was a break-up.

Though I  did not approve his decisions in many ways, still, as a brother I looked to the Lord to shepherd him. He did visit me last week and we had hour long fellowship. This week even as I was on a distribution tour, he called me again. It was just two nights ago that I had to listen to him for hours over the phone. He went through a tough time and needed someone to talk to and fellowship with. The Lord simply led me to listen to whatever he had to say. He spoke and spoke and spoke, and I listened and listened and patiently listened. After he spat out all that were in his being concerning his family matter he said, "Thank you for listening to me patiently." And further explained his gratitude to the Lord for giving a brother who gave him a listening ears. After all "stories" I simply led him to pray. Since he needed a special advice, my recommendation to him after the late night talk was to take a good rest.

The next day morning he called again for fellowship, and I simply led him to the word of God to pray. We prayed few verses from Matthew 5. The word of God was so nourishing that we repeated the verses over and over again. The best prayer was to pray the word of God and be nourished by it. I was nourished and he was nourished too. Praise the Lord!

Many times to shepherd people just needs a listening ear. Not to give advises or suggestions, but to simply listen and discern what the reality is and shepherd with the word of God.

Lord, grace me a listening ear, to listen to Your children and to You, and apply the word appropriately.