“Ears that hear and eyes that see – the Lord has made them both.” Proverbs 20:12 NIV
Benign neglect in matters of spiritual life can be costly to the soul.
My thoughts and comments today are about “benign neglect.”
You interact with your world through your five senses, especially what you see and hear. Therefore, be discerning. When vision or hearing is impaired even minimally, life becomes difficult. Natural abilities may diminish so gradually that impairment goes unnoticed, until obvious eventually. To the degree either is affected, normal activity is more challenging. Vision and hearing are each central to the personal interaction required for healthy relationships. When either is diminished, communication is inhibited and, in some measure, understanding is limited.
The Bible says, “Ears that hear and eyes that see – the Lord has made them both.” Proverbs 20:12 NIV. These are precious gifts from God. These abilities are to be valued and protected. They are God-given, enabling communication and relationship with God and others for mutual benefit. Look and learn. Become a student of life. Observe; explore; marvel at what you see and grow wiser. Listen and learn; gather facts and information, but hold fast to truth. “The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” Psalm 19:8 NIV.
Solomon’s wise advice is, “Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding.” Read Proverbs 23:19-25 NIV. Listen to people; learn from them, whether younger or older. Learn from others’ example and instruction; grow wiser from their journey. Be as Jesus’ disciples found themselves, “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20 NKJV. Our silence is that we have allowed ourselves to see and hear too little, or too much of too little importance. See Acts 28:26-27 NIV.
When vision or hearing is diminished by age or damaged by accident or disease, everyday routines and life itself are more challenging. The physical loss of sight and sound is tragic, but a knowing negligence to observe or listen is a greater tragedy than physical inability. Inattentiveness is not blameless. Isaiah reprimanded people who “. . see and understand what is right but refuse to act on it . . [who] hear, but don’t really listen.” Isaiah 42:20 NLT. Could Isaiah’s words describe you?
Plants wither without water and sunlight. Children fail to thrive without love and attention. Similarly, people do not comprehend the cost of such benign neglect in matters of spiritual life. Benign neglect is not intended, just allowed to happen.The Bible provides the bottom line, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 4:17 NIV. How could that be confusing? The problem is not that you don’t know. People have heard enough truth and have seen the blessing or consequence of others’ wise or foolish response to truth.
Jesus referred to Isaiah’s observation of negligent people, “Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn so that I should heal them.” Read Matt 13:13-17 NKJV. Jesus heals blind eyes, but closed eyes He will not open. Benign neglect can be costly to the soul. See Mark 8:36-37 NKJV. If you won’t listen, you won’t hear; if you won’t look, you won’t see. God will not contradict your will.
I want to listen for God’s voice, look for His presence, and love His will. Here is God’s promise: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NKJV.
My prayer for you today is that you give full attention to God’s word and ways.