Listen BEFORE You “Leap”

Listen BEFORE You Leap

Let’s read Proverbs 18:17:

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

Isn’t this little proverb so true?  I know that in my life I have listened to a set of facts and opinions presented by one person and they seemed very, very reasonable and I found myself agreeing with that person.  But then I speak with another person involved in the situation; most often from an opposite point of view, and that person’s arguments and opinions seem very reasonable as well.

The key here is listening to both sides of the story and asking questions of both sides.  It also helps when both sides are in the room together.  The real lesson in this proverb is patience, looking before you leap, to judge someone’s actions, behavior or attitude.  When you hear all the facts, you are in a much better position to advise and counsel.

In wisdom,
Eric