Skip to main content

Getting the Facts

DATE - July 4th, 2022

TOPIC - Getting the Facts

BIBLE TEXT - What a shame, what folly, to give advice before listening to the facts!Proverbs 18:13



This proverb tells us how important it is to listen to the facts before giving advice—and how easy it is to give advice before listening. We are not alone in this dilemma. The Bible gives examples of times when people attempted to take action before they had all the facts. Paul was nearly flogged because the magistrates didn’t know that he was a Roman citizen (see Acts 22). The jailer in Acts 16 almost took his own life because he didn’t know that no prisoners had escaped during the earthquake that freed Paul and Silas. 

On the other hand, Jesus continually gave facts to his disciples so that they would be able to give accurate advice. You and I can do a great deal of harm when we jump to conclusions and give advice before we listen to the facts. Advisors must have adequate information if the advice they give is to be useful. Be sure you listen to the facts and to the one speaking before you offer advice. Not doing so, as this verse says, is shame and folly.



PRAYER
LORD, let the advice I give be based on facts, not on feelings or false representation. Keep me from jumping to conclusions and becoming involved in folly. Let my words be consistent with your Word. Help me to be an advisor who listens to the facts and gives godly counsel.

INSIGHT
God has given men one tongue but two ears, that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

THINKING GOD’S WAY

JULY 9TH – CAPSULE 9  TOPIC: THINKING GOD’S WAY  BIBLE TEXT: EPHESIANS 4VS23 – Be renewed in the spirit of your mind. How you process information and arrive at conclusions must always be subject to the will of God. Listen, “……….be made new in the attitude of your minds”. When you first start thinking Gods way, it will feel strange to you. It may even feel like a “put-on”. But it’s not. It works like this: you have to  (a). Practice being nice until you automatically become nice.  (b). Practice going to church on Sunday, until going anywhere else seems strange to you.  (c). Practice giving to God until it be comes as natural to you as shopping at the mall.  (d). Practice speaking the truth until even the smallest lie tastes bad in your mouth.  (e). Practice speaking kindness until every cynical, negative word is purged from your vocabulary. Its all a matter of practice! But you ask, “ isn’t that hypocritical – feeling one way and speaking an...

IT RUBS OFF

AUGUST 9th - CAPSULE 9 TOPIC: IT RUBS OFF BIBLE TEXT: Exodus 34 vs. 29 – His face glowed from being in the presence of God. You can only talk convincingly about the God you know, the one you’ve spent time with. Any other God belongs in a theology book, and you will have a hard time selling Him. When Moses came down from the mountain, his face shone. He had been in God’s presence, and when you’ve been there it shows in the way you look, the way you walk and talk, the way you treat your family, the way you spend your money and the way you respond to hurting people. It rubs off!   Paul Cain says “most of us are as close to God as we want to be”. Think about it “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you” (James 4 vs. 8). How could you possibly be the same when you’ve been with Him? He transforms everything He touches. Listen – He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91 vs. 1). He didn’t say “visit” or...

THE FIRST WITNESSES

Date - December 22nd, 2021 Topic - THE FIRST WITNESSES   Bible Text - When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. - Luke 2:17-18 As anyone who has ever been part of a living nativity can tell you, the shepherds played an important role in the Christmas story. Angels announced Jesus’ birth to them. Since angels only do God’s bidding, it’s safe to say God wanted the shepherds involved. Naturally the shepherds were overwhelmed and frightened at first. But the angels calmed their fears. They headed off to Bethlehem, as the angels directed, unsure of exactly why they had been summoned by God. They had no gifts to give the baby or the young couple. They really had nothing to offer at all. Yet they went to see all that the angels had told them about. As a result, the shepherds were the only witnesses, besides Mary and Joseph, to Jesus’ first hours on ea...