It’s Not What It Looks Like

“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” Prov. 18:13

Too many of us make the wrong assessments of a situation. We look at or hear of circumstances and make a rash judgment with little knowledge of what did happen. Almost every time I have made a hasty judgment, I have found my discernment was wrong. I found myself feeling quite foolish, when I learned what really had happened was not what I thought had happened. Proverbs 18:13 reminds us that our judgments, without having full details of what transpired, will make us feel foolish: “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” We need to hear both sides of the story before “jumping the gun” in understanding an event.

Many of us have quickly learned that situations are not always what they appear. Here are several biblical instances where quick scrutiny of a situation would most likely lead to a wrong judgment:

• Mary, the mother of Jesus. Joseph quite possibly assumed that Mary had had relations with a man resulting in her pregnancy. I am sure that family and neighbors thought the same thing. Their assumptions, however, were all wrong. Mary was with child from a super natural occurrence (Luke 2:35) in her life. Mary’s pregnancy was not a result of what they assumed had happened to the young woman. Boy, were Joseph and the others wrong.
• Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. When folks undoubtedly heard that Mary was pregnant, I am sure many assumed Joseph had committed sin with Mary. Those folks had no idea that Joseph was trusted to be part of God’s plan, prophesied hundred’s of years previously. Boy, were they wrong.
• Jesus, when He hung on the cross. When the multitudes passed Christ hanging on the cross, I am sure many assumed He was a criminal like the other two that were punished on either side of him. They had no idea that He had done no crime, but was paying the price for their sins. Boy, were their assumptions wrong.
• Apostles, when they were killed. Except for John, who died of old age, all the other apostles died by crucifixion, beheading, spearing, or stoning. Unknowing onlookers must have surely wondered what horrible crime they had committed to be punished that way. They had no idea that they were dying for the cause of Christ and had not committed any crime worthy of their punishment. Boy, were those onlookers wrong.
• The sick and blind that Jesus healed. Many, I am sure, wondered what sin some of the blind, and sick that Jesus had later healed, had committed resulting in their affliction. Little did they know, that their infirmity was not punishment for their sin or for the sins of their parents, but so that God could get the glory in their healing. Jesus’ ministry was widespread because God got the glory in the healing He did for those with infirmities. Boy, were their judgments wrong.

Today, as in the examples above, many falsely judge a situation. A wrong idea of what we suspect happened or is happening can taint a relationship permanently with a person or an idea about a person. We certainly would not want anyone to falsely think the worst of us in apparent circumstances; so with that in mind, give others a second, third, fourth, etc. chance. Give them the benefit of the doubt in a situation; and whatever you do, get more than one side of the story. Get the details from more than your one quick, uniformed glance; then you will be able to make wiser judgments.

“Search seven times before you suspect anyone.” — Japanese Proverb