5 Biblical Ways to Communicate with Others
In life many problems can either be solved or prevented if we learnt the art of communicating properly with one another.
Poor communication can damage relationships. A marriage, a job or even a friendship can end because of a failure to communicate or a failure to understand the message being conveyed by the other person.
Therefore communication with another person not only involves the ability to speak or write a message, but it also requires the ability to listen and understand one another.
The Bible has many things to say about communication. Below are several Biblical tips and guidelines about how we should communicate with people.
How to Communicate with Others
1. Learn to listen to others before you speak. Hear and understand the facts first before speaking. Do not be a chronic interrupter whilst another is speaking.
Proverbs 18:13 says: If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.
The Bible says that it is foolish and shameful to speak or judge or interrupt a person before you have heard the person speak or tell his/her side of the story.
Therefore listening is just as important as speaking whenever we communicate with others.
2. Do not always try to dominate a conversation. Communicate with an attitude of humility. We must listen with the intention to understand and then respond appropriately. Communication is not always one-sided. So to avoid misunderstandings, we must allow others to speak before we give our own opinion.
Proverbs 18:2 says: A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
Therefore if we only desire to express our opinion without listening or attempting to understand others, then we risk behaving foolishly instead of wisely.
3. Avoid communicating whilst angry or enraged. Try to always keep your composure. Anger can lead to extreme situations such as violence against one another. Harsh communication can sometimes create a more toxic relationship. It is like adding fuel to a fire that is already burning.
Proverbs 15:1 NLT says: A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.
James 1:19-20 says: Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires.
So instead of communicating in anger, we must learn to communicate in love.
Ephesians 4:15 says: Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ,
4. Communication must be careful, truthful and concise. Choose your words carefully, be honest and be accurate. Do not communicate with the intention to lie, exaggerate or deceive as this can lead to all kinds of relationship problems and issues.
Proverbs 14:5 NLT says: An honest witness does not lie; a false witness breathes lies.
In Matthew 12:36-37 Jesus says: “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned”
5. Communicate with the intention to build and not destroy. Our mouth and words are so powerful to the extent that what we speak is able to either build or destroy others.
Ephesians 4:29 says: Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Proverbs 12:18-19 says: There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
Our words should build; our words should be filled with wisdom so that those who hear are encouraged.
Conclusion
We all communicate every single day, but yet taming our tongue is something we’ve failed to perfect.
James 3:1-12 mentions that the tongue is difficult to tame and that our tongue is capable of creating many problems for us and for others.
Poor communication can lead to terrible consequences. Therefore words matter and how we communicate with others can either build or destroy.
Proverbs 18:21 says that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruit”
Listening and attempting to understand people as they speak is just as important when communicating with others. So we do not listen in order to reply, but we also listen in order to understand.
So whenever we communicate, it must be done Biblically and to the glory of God.
