Daily Devotional

The Mariana trench is the deepest underwater location on earth, plummeting 36,000 feet below sea level, or roughly 6 ½ miles deep.  In 1960, oceanographers were able to descend to the bottom, and to their surprise they discovered a vast array of unique lifeforms living in the darkness—strange creatures with strange names like goblin sharks, zombie worms, and barreleye fish.  Years later, another team reached the bottom, and the first object that came into focus was a beer bottle!  The collection of things they discovered was amazing.  

If you and I could climb into a submersible and take a journey down into the depths of our heart, I wonder what we’d find?  

More than zombie worms and bottles, the writer of Proverbs suggests we would discover the purposes that drive us.  The Hebrew word etzah can refer to the plans, purposes, motives or intentions of our heart.  In other words, the things we really care about.  The things we cherish.  Our hopes, dreams, desires and goals.

The problem is that many times those things are buried deep in the darkness of our hearts and we can’t understand them (Jeremiah 17:9).  So how can we gain clarity and wisdom and find direction in life?  How can we get the answers we’re looking for?

Proverbs 20:5 explains that we need someone to draw them out of us.  A friend, a counselor, or family member who cares about us… and knows enough about us to ask the right questions.  

In my experience, there is no substitute for listening.  Sometimes listening can be far more productive than talking.  And caring can accomplish more than giving advice.  

Here are a few of the ways listening can draw treasure up out of a person’s heart:

• Listening creates empathy, which produces a feeling of closeness.
• Listening makes people feel loved, valued and cared for.
• Listening is necessary to develop trust and transparency.
• Listening provides deeper insight and clearer understanding.
• Listening sparks creativity and leads to innovative ideas and solutions.

If you’re not a naturally-gifted listener—most of us aren’t—then let me ask you this question: “Aren’t you glad God listens to you?”  

Listening is a godly quality.  So on a scale of 1–10, how good of a listener do you think you are?  

Now that you’ve scored yourself, if you want to really find out the truth, go ask three people what they think about your listening skills: your spouse…your children…and your best friend.  Then commit to improving in this area of your life.  

If you learn how to ask the right questions, and you learn how to listen, you will become a “man of understanding” who is able to draw treasure out of a person’s heart.  

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.