Communication involves the act of transmitting information by talk, gestures or writing - which is a two-way street. There must be the giving and the receiving of information for communication to exist. If a person says, or writes something but no one receives it, there is no communication. Here are some practical suggestions on how we can improve communication.

First, there must be the expression of our feelings. People cannot be expected to know our feelings unless we express them. Paul said, “For what man knows the things of man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2:11). But there is more involved than just the expression of one’s heart—it must be received.

Too often men hear what they expected God, or their fellow-man, to say. We must listen to the words and understand the thought expressed in order to have true communication.

Second, we should listen without forming a response until we have heard the whole message. The wise writer said, “He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him” (Prov. 18:13). When we “exercise ourselves by jumping to conclusions” we are engaged in folly, and shameful conduct.

Third, we should be able to repeat the message in words the speaker will accept as his message. Words do have different meanings and if we are not careful, we will put wrong constructions on the words.

Isaac Watts (a theologian and song writer; 1674-1748) wrote: “In matters of equity between man and man, our Savior has taught us an effectual means of guarding against the prejudice, and that is—to put my neighbor in the place of myself, and myself in the place of my neighbor, rather than be bribed by the corrupt principle of self-love to do injury to my neighbors. Thence arises that Golden Rule of dealing with others as we would have others deal with us” (A Book About the Bible, George Stimpson, p. 47). It is based upon the statements of the Lord as recorded in Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31.  If we would apply these principles in the home, husbands and wives would not have so many misunderstandings. Children would be better understood and they would understand their parents better. The same is true in the work-place and in every other relationship.