Seek to Understand Before Being Understood
By Rick Warren
“Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had” (Philippians 2:4-5 NLT).
When you’re in conflict, the loving and Christlike way to defuse the tension is to seek to understand before seeking to be understood. Try to figure out what the other person is thinking and saying before you start trying to convince them convince them of your side. You cannot hope to be understood until you are willing to do the same for others.
The Bible says, “A person who answers without listening is foolish and disgraceful” (Proverbs 18:13 ICB).
We are often so busy trying to get people to see it our way that we don’t stop to listen to what they are saying.
That’s why you need to say, “You go first.” And then, after they’ve shared, you say, “Now, let me see if I understand. You’re saying (repeat to them what you understood they were communicating to you). Did I get this right?” That gives them a chance to correct and not just be understood but also feel understood.
Seeking to understand first also allows you to see the other person’s perspective. Philippians 2:4-5 says, “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had” (NLT).
We’re in the thick of a pandemic filled with a lot of heated discussion around the best way to move forward. Everyone has their own perspective, but it seems like no one is willing see anyone else’s perspective. All we can see is our own side of things.
If you’re not willing to seek to understand and acknowledge other perspectives, you’re not going to be able to see the hurt of other people. You won’t see their fear, their pain, or the injustice they’ve faced.
That is not the way of Jesus Christ. He was always looking beyond himself to the needs of others. Even on the cross, he was thinking of you.
It’s not easy to think of others before yourself. It certainly isn’t natural. You are, by nature, a self-centered person. So am I! Left to my own devices, I will always choose to look out for myself before I look out for others.
Only Jesus can change my perspective—and yours. Only Jesus can make you more interested in someone else’s interests than in your own. When you take on the character of Christ, the desire to understand before being understood becomes more natural. Only then can you work through conflict as you think of others before yourself.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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