"I'm responsible for what I say, not what you hear!"

Let me let you into my head a little bit. When I start to see a statement become more and more popular, it makes me wonder "What would God say to that?" and I start searching it out. I saw this again this morning and it made me wonder: "If it truly matters that they get the message, and I've got the message they need to hear, do I then have any responsibilities towards that?"

"I'm responsible for what I say, not what you hear!"

Well... slow down a bit on that one. I disagree.  At least, I'm not 100% sure that's true.  Of course you are responsible for what people hear!  Part of effective communication is laboring to make sure people hear what you're saying. Good communicators don't put all the burden on the listeners. Good communicators work to bring the message in a way the hearer can hear it.

Paul speaks to this in a manner...

"Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." - 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

I think the key is this: How much does it matter to you that they get the message? Or are you satisfied with simply getting your own words out? Maybe to satisfy your flesh?

We all listen with our own biases. I claim that. We filter everything through our own lenses. If you have a critical message filled with life-altering wisdom, you might need to work it some. It doesn't appear that you get to use the other person's inability to grasp what you're saying as a cop out. Paul seems to be teaching that you should learn the lens through which you're being heard and adapt accordingly.

If you truly care and if it truly matters, take some responsibility for what people hear, too, in addition to what you say. I know it's difficult but, after all, to whom much is given...

Mark Anthony McCray helps people live on PURPOSE, achieve higher PERFORMANCE and experience true PROSPERITY. Be sure to subscribe to this blog so you don't miss a thing and forward this to a friend if you found it helpful. All material © Copyright, Mark Anthony McCray unless otherwise noted!

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