STORY ZA JABA

“The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.” — Proverbs 15:31

Where’s the place where you get all manner of stories? Some created, some exaggerated, some random true stories na Udaku Mob. Pale Kinyozi ama Salon…sindio?? But the conversations need to be lit and enjoyable, na utaambiwa vitu mob sanaa hadi unaskia ni kama asimalize haraka kuku-shave.

It has a looping magnetic effect—those intriguing stories.

I wonder what hooks you up completely and draws off your attention from reality??

In life, we are constantly surrounded by “stories.” Some are light-hearted and entertaining, others exaggerated or half-truths, while others carry a seed of reality. Just like in the barbershop or salon, they keep coming, and before you realize it, your attention has been completely drawn in. There’s laughter, shock, curiosity, and sometimes even gossip—but all of it competes for your ear and your heart.

That is the very reason Scripture calls us to be intentional about what we listen to. The writer of Proverbs says, “The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.”

In other words, it is not enough to have ears—it matters what we allow our ears to dwell on. Stories za jaba can keep you entertained, but they will not give you direction. They may hook your imagination, but they will not ground your soul.

Only the Word of God has the power to bring life, to correct, to guide, and to keep us wise in a noisy world.

Think about Samuel in 1 Samuel 3. As a young boy serving under Eli, he heard a voice calling his name in the quiet of the night. Three times he mistook it for Eli, but finally Eli realized it was the Lord. Samuel then responded, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.” That moment marked the beginning of Samuel’s prophetic journey. His ear was tuned not to the noise of the world, not to the many stories that could distract, but to the life-giving voice of God.

And from that day forward, the Bible says the Lord was with him, and none of His words fell to the ground.

If ordinary stories in a kinyozi can take your mind away from reality, how much more should God’s story—His Word of truth, His account of love and redemption—capture our full attention?

If we allow it to loop in our minds, it will not only entertain but transform, not only draw us in but lift us up, not only hook our ears but shape our lives.