What Are Your Earbuds Keeping You From Hearing?

“On your left!”

I call out as I approach walkers ahead of me on the trail, alerting them that I would be passing them on my bike, giving them time to react and move right if they wanted. This declaration imparts information, insight, and warning.

Information that their situation is about to change, for however briefly. One minute they are walking along alone, lost in their thoughts and the next I am whizzing by from behind.

Insight into a decision they might need to make, providing guidance to help them make a wise choice. Some people acknowledge with a hand wave or respond by moving a little more to the right. Sometimes, parents with children shepherd them to the side to let me pass. Alert to their surroundings, they respond to what they hear.

Warning of the possibility of danger. There is always the risk of an accident.

Most people, however, have white cords dangling from their ears as they walk the path. The tell-tale sign of earbuds. Tiny little speakers tucked into the space that, when open lets in the sounds around them and when closed, makes it impossible to receive the information, evaluate the options, and avoid impending danger. What is coming through the speakers? Maybe a favorite music play list that gets the feet moving. Maybe an audio book. Maybe a fired up preacher’s podcast. Edifying or simply mindless entertainment, whatever it is, it blocks their ability to hear “on your left” and leaves them vulnerable.

When the Bible talks about hearing, it isn’t just the act of perceiving something by our ears. Hearing is a mind and heart action. It is the spiritual position of receiving information, understanding insights, guidance, and even warnings. It requires a response, a reaction on our part.

Jesus often used parables to illustrate a point about God, the kingdom of heaven, salvation, and faith-filled living; stories wrapped up in common language but with a deeper meaning that required the hearer to engage in spiritual discernment to understand. He often ended these stories with the admonishment, “He who has ears, let him hear.” In other words, “let him (or her) be attuned to listen to and understand what I am really saying.”

Jesus knew most people would not hear the underlying truth he was communicating. They might have physically perceived the words, but they did not spiritually hear the message. Their ability to hear, to take it in and let it change their lives, was blocked. Impeded.

Spiritual hearing causes us to reevaluate our choices and rethink our decisions in light of God’s instructional Word. It invites us to revisit conversations or actions through the lens of becoming a new creation in Christ. When we are engaged in hearing, we gain wisdom and discernment and we recognize conviction when we need to change our ways. But too many of us go through life with earbuds in – both literally and figuratively – and our ability to hear is impaired.

Why? What are these “earbuds” that interfere with our hearing?

Back in Jesus’ day, preconceived ideas of who the Messiah would be kept many from understanding the call to repentance and responding to the good news of salvation. The Israelites were looking for a warrior king as their redeemer. Not a carpenter turned preacher. Their expectations hindered their hearing the good news that their Savior had come.

Many of Jesus’ parables were pointed, directly aimed at exposing the self-righteous, hypocritical, and arrogant hearts of the religious leaders of the time. They showed up to worship on Saturday and then for the next 6 days their actions and words did not align with what they professed to believe. And to make matters worse, they drug others down that path with them. Their priorities of power, money, and prestige hindered their hearing and made it impossible for Jesus’ words to transform their lives.

The rich young man walked away from Jesus, unwilling to give up his earthly wealth. Another would-be follower wanted to live his life first, do his own thing, and then, maybe, follow Jesus. When it was convenient. He didn’t need Jesus right then. 5 of the 10 young women waiting for the bridegroom did not come fully prepared. They thought they had plenty of time. In each case, comfortable complacency with life and a worldy priority on possessions and selfish endeavors dulled their senses and lulled them into a false sense of security. They failed to hear the messages of the worth of the kingdom of heaven or the urgency of being ready and willing right now.

And, although not a parable, Martha was so consumed by her responsibilities serving Jesus that she missed the invitation to sit at his feet. She then proceeded to criticize her sister for taking a breather from the kitchen to worship Jesus. When she complained, Jesus gently admonished Martha that she wasn’t hearing properly.

Not so unlike us today were they?

Our ability to hear is inversely proportional to everything else competing for our time, our resources, our mental energy, our emotions, and our hearts. Careers, possessions, children, spouses, volunteer activities, Bible studies, social media (who hasn’t killed an hour, or more, on Facebook when you should have been doing something else?) and the endless availability of Hallmark movies on TV can all act as earbuds in our lives when we allow them to clutter our minds and occupy our hearts.

Proverbs 18:15 instructs that “the heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.” God wants to speak to you. He has instructions about our priorities, our authenticity, and our grip on our earthly treasures. He desires to provide his insights and guidance that will change our decisions, the words we speak, our thoughts, our understanding, and our perspectives. He will warn us of impending danger – giving us the opportunity to respond accordingly.

Most importantly, he desires to speak his love, forgiveness, grace, and mercy into your heart. He wants you to know he is your Savior. The question is, will you have the ears to hear?

Can I encourage you to do one thing today to open up the space for God to speak? Clear the calendar. Turn off the car radio. Put the phone down. Spend 10 minutes contemplating what “earbuds” are impeding your hearing after reading this article. Read a devotion. Take that walk without the little white speakers, let your heart determine what your mind focuses on, and be attuned to what God says to you about that. And when you hear “on your left,” wave as I pass by.

Do you have ears to hear? Or are you wearing spiritual earbuds? Click To Tweet