Selective Hearing

A child would complete the task in record speed without taking any notes!

2 Timothy 4:1-8

Reference: But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:5 NIV)

Explore: It’s funny how children will hear every piece of information if it involves lollies! I could say, “There’s a block of chocolate in the fridge. But to get it you must clap three times, run around the house, pick up seven leaves, tap on two doors and say the alphabet backwards.” And a child would jump straight to it and complete the task in record speed without taking any notes!

However, if I were to ask a young person to unstack the dishwasher, all of a sudden there is selective hearing and instant memory loss! And let’s be honest, that doesn’t just stop with children.

Application: There are times when we are given instructions that we’d rather not hear. There are always tasks that we’re required to complete that we’d rather not do. But we do them because they are important and we know we will benefit in the long term.

The verse from 2 Timothy 4 holds some instructions that are often had to complete. Keeping your head is easy when you’re calm and well rested. But if you’re stressed, had little sleep, and someone rubs you up the wrong way, it’s much easier to let your head explode.

But God gives us these instructions through Paul because he knows they are challenging, but important to do. It’s easy for us to pick and choose the scriptures that we like to take on board, but let’s not forget all the instructions God gives to us. All of it may not be easy, but it is all beneficial.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me when I have selective hearing with Your instructions. May I be willing to put in the hard yards today to reap the benefits for You in the future. Amen.

What Godly instruction are you often resistant to hearing?

2 Timothy, children, future, hearing, instructions, lollies, wisdom