Be Wise and Wait for the Whole Story
By Rick Warren
"What a shame—yes, how stupid!—to decide before knowing the facts!” Proverbs 18:13 (TLB)
To be wise in today's information-saturated society, you need two vital qualities: sound judgment and discernment. That means you learn God’s wisdom from God’s Word and then apply it to everything. You filter information and make decisions through what God has told you to do in Scripture.
Too many gullible Christians are willing to believe anything they hear or read on social media—whether that’s a news story or gossip about a friend. They don't stop and question; they just automatically accept anything that fits within their bias.
Don't throw away your common sense. Don't be gullible and believe everything you hear. That causes conflict.
Proverbs 3:21 says, " Do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion" (NIV).
Just like it’s important to get an accurate picture of things you see or hear online, you also need to get an accurate picture in your relationships. Without all the information you need, jumping to conclusions leads to quick tempers and arguments. To lower the anger factor and have harmony with other people, you must learn to reserve judgment until you know all the facts and understand the whole story.
Instead, choose to “preserve sound judgment.” Hold onto it. Don't quickly throw it out or get rid of it. Keep a firm grip on it, as if the health of your relationships depends on it—because it does!
The Bible says, "What a shame—yes, how stupid!—to decide before knowing the facts!” (Proverbs 18:13 TLB)
Don’t be quick to condemn or criticize. Don’t assume you know people’s motivation, because you probably don’t. Don't decide before knowing all the facts.
When you wait for the whole story, you develop the compassion to love well and become more like Jesus.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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