HOW TO DRAW THE MOST FROM FATHERS AND TRAINERS
About ten years ago, I visited my grandfather in the faith. When I got into his office, he asked me about the ministry, and I began to share about the things the Lord has done and was doing. He brought out a pen and a paper. He took note of some things I said. He asked further questions, and I spoke more.
It did not take me long to realise that was not what I should have done. I should have answered briefly without trying to bore him with details and then asked questions about how to do it better.
Anytime you have the privilege to be around those who have gone ahead, make sure they are doing the talking while you do the listening. Listening to them makes them share more. Some of us are in a hurry to share our victories. If you have the privilege too, make it brief and then create room for them to share.
When you are around greatness, do not try to prove any point. It is a sign of a poor self-image. You are not in a competition. Take the posture of a student.
I was in a place once and a dear teacher was about to share a lesson. As the teacher made the first statement, another minister who should also be learning just started with, “Even us…” and went on talking till we were denied the opportunity to hear from that dear teacher. It was painful.
I heard a minister also shared about how he was in a bus with quite a number of fathers in the faith and he began to think of what to do to impress them all. At that moment, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Stay quiet. Sit down. Observe. Listen. You will gain more”. That was exactly what he did. He left that bus filled with a lot of practical wisdom for life and ministry. Why? He listened.
Keep quiet.
Stay calm.
Listen.
It takes a man of understanding to draw things out of the heart of greatness.
Proverbs 20:5 NKJV
[5] Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out.
Proverbs 20:5 NLT
[5] Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out.
Many have lost good advice because they could not listen. Learn to keep quiet and learn
temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa