How can we avoid making assumptions about others' spiritual conditions today? The scene in 1 Samuel 20:26 “Yet Saul said nothing that day, for he thought, ‘It is a coincidence; he is only ceremonially unclean; surely he is unclean.’” What Saul did • David was absent from the king’s table. • Saul immediately formed an explanation in his mind: David must be ritually unclean. • By assuming, Saul dismissed other possibilities and hardened his heart against David. Why assumptions are spiritually risky • Proverbs 18:13 – answering before hearing is folly and shame. • 1 Samuel 16:7 – the LORD looks at the heart, something people cannot see unaided. • John 7:24 – judgment must be righteous, not based on appearance. • James 4:11-12 – speaking against a brother places one in God’s seat of judgment. • 1 Corinthians 4:5 – wait until the Lord comes, for only He will disclose motives. Principles for avoiding false conclusions • Remember human limitations – Only God sees motives and hidden thoughts. – Accept that outward signs can mislead. • Slow down communication – James 1:19 – quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. – Listening creates space for truth to surface. • Seek verification – Deuteronomy 19:15 – every matter established by two or three witnesses. – Gather facts prayerfully and with patience. • Maintain a posture of humility – Philippians 2:3 – regard others as more important than yourself. – Humility resists the urge to jump to negative conclusions. • Choose charitable interpretation – 1 Peter 4:8 – love covers a multitude of sins. – Assume the best until evidence proves otherwise. • Guard the tongue – Proverbs 10:19 – where words are many, sin is not absent. – Refrain from spreading unverified opinions about another’s spiritual state. Practical habits for daily life • Begin each interaction asking the Lord to help you see with His eyes. • When you notice concerning behavior, privately ask gentle, clarifying questions rather than proclaiming judgments. • If information is incomplete, wait and pray before speaking to others about it. • Encourage regular fellowship and open dialogue, reducing gaps where rumors grow. • Remember your own need for grace, letting gratitude shape how you view others. Living it out together By steering clear of snap judgments and cultivating patient, humble inquiry, believers reflect Christ’s love, preserve unity, and leave ultimate evaluation where it belongs—in the hands of the One who “will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the hearts” (1 Corinthians 4:5). |
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