Getting both sides of a story. Pastor Bob Grenier

When someone comes to you, and tells you something about someone else, or about an incident, we can easily, ( and unfortunately often do ) believe what we just heard, without ever hearing the other side of the story. We then make conclusions about it, and might even pass on as fact what we have concluded, ( which is based on only hearing one side of the story )

Proverbs 18:17 The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him.

The Lord gives us this wisdom in the Book of Proverbs, and this verse does describe what it seems like to us when someone comes and tells us a story about someone else. It just seems right. The person telling us the story, ( or in the modern digital age, reading it in an email, or on a blog, etc, etc, ) seems justified, appears to have a just cause or complaint, they just seem to be in the right.

The first one to speak up seems right, until the neighbor, or the other party comes and brings the other side of the story to light. And, at that point the whole incident may be found to be very different then was first reported.

When we have both sides of a story, then we are in a position to make a sound judgement about the matter at hand.

How many times over the years, I've made this mistake. And, I guess as mentioned above, it's really more then one mistake. Not only drawing a conclusion without having the other side of the story, but then passing it on to others as a true fact.

Father, Thank You for giving us Your wisdom in the Bible, and in particular, Your wisdom in the book of Proverbs. How we need it. Would you please help this verse, Pro 18:17 to really stick with us, to be in our minds and our hearts in a deep and meaningful way. We live Lord in a time when so many say so much about others, and we hear it, we read it and we have to deal with it. Please help us to walk in Your wisdom, in Jesus name, amen

Pastor Bob Grenier

Senior Pastor

Calvary Chapel Visalia

P.S.......a few practical applicational thoughts..

Try not to listen if it's not your business.

Recognize our tendency to listen to gossip and slander.

Don't pass it on if you have no reason to.

Pray for the person who you have heard something about.

Have the courage to stop someone who is passing on gossip and slander to you.

Try and spend your time thinking about the Lord instead of someone else, and their supposed sin.

Tell others about the Lord and the love and grace and mercy that He has for people.