God's Word today profiles two kinds of people: someone who chatters, who always has too much too quickly to say, and someone “wise in heart,” who accepts commands.

The difference between the two pivots on these basic actions:

• Shutting up and listening
• Being humble

Those who excel at both listening and humble obedience face clear reward: the promise of no lifetime ruin and getting tagged as “wise in heart.”

Let's take a closer look at the actions that make the man or woman.

LISTENING – See with our ears. Hear with our eyes. A held tongue is better. Shut up to listen up. When we do, God calls us wise.

The one who chatters never gets that label. That person can't shut up and has to have “the last word.“

HUMILITY – Humility creates enough space for others to weigh in well, especially God's Spirit and His Word. Only the humble consistently accept commands. Only the humble get tagged as teachable.

They're the ones who become world class when it comes to trust and obedience. When humility sets in, critical turnovers are avoided, sin downsizes and ruin is escaped. In contrast, the one who chatters is filled with only self-directed thoughts, never leaving room for humility to grow.

Reflect: Which one are you more like – the “chattering fool” or the one “wise in heart”? How are you doing in your listening skills and commitment to humble obedience? Are you doing it like Jesus?

A prayer to consider: LORD, I know I'm better off listening and obeying than speaking and self-directing. Thank You for making this clear and rewarding.

Spirit of God, stop my chattering. Shut me up. Shut me down. Speak to me. I wait again today, listening for sweet, strong words from You. Keep fashioning a Jesus humbleness and obedient servanthood in me, for Your glory and my joy, Amen.