Общение важно!¡La comunicación es importante!
Sorry, I meant to say communication is important. If you’ve ever experienced the frustration of being misunderstood…or of misunderstanding someone else, you understand why. Whether at home, school, work, or in our congregations, poor communication can lead to hurt feelings, damaged relationships, and missed opportunities to build one another up in love. But the Bible has a lot to say about the importance of how we speak and listen.
Let’s explore what communication really is, why it matters, and how we can improve it to better serve Christ and one another.
What Is Communication?
Is communication just the ability to talk? Not quite. Most of us have known someone who could talk endlessly in a long train of incoherent words, but no one really understood a single thing they said. With their overwhelming mass of words they neither gave you nor the people around them a chance to clarify for mutual understanding. You could speak a different language and they wouldn’t know!
The reality is that communication involves both speaking and hearing. It’s not just transmitting our thoughts—it’s ensuring those thoughts are received, understood, and responded to. It’s encoding thoughts into language, then decoding that language on the other end. It’s exchanging ideas, emotions, knowledge, and concern in a way that leads to shared understanding.
That means we all can be powerful communicators through facial expressions, posture, and gestures…without ever saying a word. On the other hand, someone who speaks constantly may be a poor communicator… if they fail to listen.
The Power of Communication
There are two places in scriptures that stand out to illustrate the power of communication…
In Genesis 11, we find a striking example of the power of communication. The people who built the Tower of Babel had a shared language and a common goal. Their unity was so strong that God Himself said, “now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them” (Genesis 11:6).
That’s a staggering statement! But when God confused their language, and they could no longer communicate properly, work ground to a halt and they scattered.
From this, we learn two things: Good communication fosters unity and makes great things possible. When we communicate clearly and lovingly, we can build relationships, encourage one another, and serve God more effectively. But when we fail to communicate—or miscommunicate—we are weakened and divided.
A second example shows that poor communication can do more than stop progress, it can create devastating harm. In 2 Samuel 10, King David sent messengers to the Ammonite king Hanun to comfort him after his father’s death. It was a gesture of kindness and diplomacy.
But Hanun’s advisors misinterpreted David’s intentions. Instead of seeing it as a message of peace, they assumed David meant harm. They humiliated the messengers, and as a result, war broke out—leading to the death of more than 40,000 soldiers.
One misunderstood message. One assumption. One communication failure—resulted in division, devastation, and death.
Poor communication can do the same in our lives. It can damage friendships, strain marriages, divide churches, and hinder our influence for Christ. We need good communication!
How Can We Communicate Better?
Thankfully, Scripture offers us wisdom to improve our communication:
1. Learn to Listen
Proverbs 18:13 says, “He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.” Listening well means not just waiting for our turn to speak, but genuinely trying to understand the other person. It requires humility and patience.
2. Think Before You Speak
James 1:19 tells us, “Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.” Proverbs 21:23 adds, “He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles.” Not every thought needs to be voiced. Sometimes wisdom is found in restraint.
3. Speak with Clarity
1 Corinthians 14:7-11 reminds us that even a trumpet must give a clear sound to be understood. If people can’t understand what we’re trying to say—whether because of mumbling, poor timing, or vague words—communication hasn’t really happened. Whether speaking or listening, I need to seek clarity.
Obstacles to Good Communication—and How to Overcome Them
Even when we try to listen and speak well, obstacles can still get in the way. Here are some common ones—and how to overcome them:
– A Lack of Trustworthiness Proverbs 16:28 warns that a gossip “separates close friends.” If people can’t trust us with what they’ve shared in the past, communication will die in the future. Let your behavior show you are safe and dependable.
– Insincerity and Double-Speak Proverbs 27:5-6 says, “Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” People can usually tell when we’re being fake. Sincere words, even if difficult, go much further than flattery or dishonesty.
– Overreaction and Anger Proverbs 29:11 warns that “a fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back.” We can’t have healthy communication if every conversation becomes a battlefield. Stay calm—even when you disagree.
– Unfair Judgments Leviticus 19:15 reminds us not to show partiality or injustice in our judgments. If we judge others more harshly than we judge ourselves, we’ll shut down meaningful conversations. Jesus says the same in Matthew 7:1-4—don’t be hypocritical or hypercritical.
– Holding on to Past Wrongs Proverbs 17:9 says, “He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends.” Forgiveness clears the way for restored communication. Holding grudges clogs the channel.
– Neglecting Encouragement Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.” Constant criticism will push others away. Balance is essential. A timely word of praise or thanks can breathe new life into a strained relationship.
God Deserves Our Best
Good communication isn’t just about avoiding problems, it’s about creating better situations. It can help us be better parents, better friends, better employees…and most importantly, better servants of Christ. The ability to speak and listen well builds unity and empowers us to do great things for God.
If you and I are willing to listen more intently, speak more thoughtfully, and start doing the work to remove and overcome obstacles, we can have great unity and do great things for God.
If we are honest, we can all do a little better in our communication, but it’s worth it…for our neighbor, and for our eternal soul.
I hope we will all strive to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1:19). In doing so, we open the door to better communication, stronger relationships, and a life that more fully glorifies God.
