Have you ever jumped to a conclusion that simply was not right? All of us do. At times we think we know what is going on only to discover later that we were not even close to the truth. When we do not know a person’s intentions, we must be extremely careful about drawing firm conclusions about their character or motives. In our desire to discover the truth, we should strive to get all the facts, listen more than we speak, and reach conclusions only when all the facts are obtained.
Here are two stories that illustrate why doing so is important:
A story was told that one day a man was driving down a winding country lane when he came around a sharp curve and almost hit a car that was swerving all over the road. He jerked the wheel as he barely missed it. As they passed, the erratic driver shouted out the window, “Pig!”
Angrily the man managed to yell back, “Cow!”
For a brief moment, the man felt smug with his quick response. He then sped around the next curve and slammed headlong into a large pig standing in the middle of the road.
How many times have you reacted in anger only to find out later that things were quite different from what you originally perceived?
Next time, before losing your temper and jumping to conclusions, calm down, find out what is really going on, and you just might miss hitting a “pig standing in the middle of the road.”
The Bible too is filled with a number of stories from which we can learn. The story about Hannah is one of them. This story tells us about the dangers of jumping to conclusions and making humiliating and incorrect assumptions about another person’s actions that turn out to be wrong. Her story deals with infertility, bullying, and answered prayer.
One day she was standing inside the ancient Israelite holy shrine at Shiloh by herself praying to God when, Eli, the chief priest, saw her and grew annoyed.
You see, Hannah was one of the wives of Elkanah. He had two wives. She was the first and Peninnah was the second. Peninnah had children but she had none. She was barren.
The rival wife Peninnah always taunted her cruelly, rubbing it in and never letting her forget that God had not given her children. This went on year after year. Every time she went to the sanctuary of God she could expect to be taunted. Hannah was reduced to tears and had no appetite. That day, Hannah slipped away quietly, and entered the sanctuary. The priest Eli was on duty at the entrance to God’s Temple in the customary seat. Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried inconsolably.
Eli noticed the behaviour of this strange woman by herself moving her lips but was unable to hear exactly what she was saying. He immediately assumed the worse and castigated her. Thinking she was drunk he said, “How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine from you.”
You see, without knowing her story, Eli the priest prejudged and jumped to conclusions and condemned Hannah. He assumed the worst and was completely wrong.
Proverbs 25:8 instructs us, “Don’t jump to conclusions – there may be a perfectly good explanation for what you just saw.” Proverbs 12:16 also states, “A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.”
So, the next time you wish to prejudge and jump to conclusions to condemn others, slow down, and think through the situation instead. Ask yourself what information could help you to reach a valid conclusion, and how you could get that information. Make sure you know all the facts before accusing or judging others.
Remember: You can get yourself into trouble by jumping to conclusions because things are not always what they seem.
About the Author: Mrs. Marilyn Hodge owns and operates the Wellness Centre in the Farrington, Anguilla. The Centre offers Counselling Services by Appointment Only and has now published Positive Living Volume 3. Contact information: 476-3517 or email: marilynb@anguillanet.com. www.facebook.com/axawellnesscentre.
