Be Careful What You Assume and How You Answer A Matter – PART 2

Be Careful What You Assume and How You Answer A Matter (Proverbs 18:13) – PART 2

Proverbs 18:13, “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.”

Proverbs 18:13 illustrates the importance of paying attention to a matter before you offer your opinions or conclusions. Failure to be attentive to all the facts will lead to a failure in your credibility. You will end up looking foolish and bring embarrassment to yourself. Solomon used the word "shame". This word is from the Hebrew word kelimmah {kel-im-maw'} which means "disgrace, dishonor, insults, confusion, or shame”.

The principle of this verse is very relevant for any pastor, preacher, or Sunday school teacher. It is a reminder to us that before we preach and offer our conclusions on a passage of Scripture, we had better take the time to carefully study it. We better "hear out" the matter by reading, studying, and even consulting other men of God sometimes, to find out the meaning of a passage, especially when it is a difficult one to understand.

Why would a person answer a matter or give his opinion before he hears about a situation or problem? Why would he make a decision before getting all the facts? One reason is the person is arrogant and thinks he knows everything. This attitude causes him to ignore or not listen to others and feel he is not accountable to anyone. The consequences of such behavior are foolishness and shame.

For example, on February 10, 2009, Congress and then the Senate in Washington D.C. voted on a trillion-dollar bill without taking the time to read it. Unbelievable! It was the most expensive bill in the history of the United States of America and yet, none of our politicians took the time, or had the time, to examine the entire bill and understand what they were approving by their vote. They really did not have any time to read it because it was rushed through by those in leadership exerting pressure on the Congress.

This foolish action is an ample illustration of this verse. They did not get all the facts before they answered the matter or voted their opinion in this case. About a month later, when unpopular policies in this bill began to surface, especially with the insurance company AIG, they had “egg on their face” and passed legislation to undo some of the things they approved in their vote of ignorance.

The Bible warns against developing such habits however, and graciously helps us to steer clear of speaking of things about which we know very little. As the above verse indicates, it is actually foolish and shameful for one to “give an answer before he hears”. But what does this actually mean?

If we give a little thought to this verse, the meaning becomes clear rather quickly. Think about your own experience. Recount times that you have opened your mouth to give your opinion on something, only to find out how wrong you actually were about the subject, and how much better it would have been to be “swift to hear, slow to speak” (James 1:19), so that you could have received more information. It has happened to me more times than I would like to admit.

So, what are the practical implications of this warning to not answer before we hear?
1. We must give ourselves to actively listening to others.
We know what it’s like when we are talking to someone and you can tell that they have not heard a word you are saying, but are only waiting to pounce and give their thoughts on the subject. Or let me bring it closer to home. You know how easy it is to nod your head act like you are listening when in reality you are only planning what to say next. This is not only inconsiderate, it keeps us from true understanding and will actually increase our chances of giving foolish answers. For kindness and wisdom’s sake, we should give ourselves to actively listening to others–to focusing on what they are saying, and seek to understand it–not merely using their time to talk as an opportunity to think of what we will say next.

2. We must learn to be patient and wait for all the facts.
Take the situation with Joseph and Potiphar’s wife. If all we had was the circumstantial evidence (Joseph’s garment was in Potiphar’s wife’s hand she had a credible story, and even some “witnesses”) we might be ready to condemn an innocent man (Genesis 39:1-23). But our “answer” would have been dead wrong because we were not patient to “hear” all the facts. Had we waited, we would have learned that Joseph actually reacted in a godly fashion in the situation.

3. We must desire understanding more than giving our opinion.
Proverbs 18:2, “A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.” If the habit of our lives is to parade our opinions rather than seeking to truly understand what we are talking about, we are nothing more than fools. On the other hand, a humble, godly person does not merely throw out his or her opinion, rather, they only speak with true knowledge and understanding: Proverbs 13:16, “Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.” So, as you look out on the world around you and seek to discern various ideas and teachings, give yourself to listening, to patience, and to real understanding. Then you will be wise and your words will be a fountain of life, and you will avoid the folly and shame that inevitably comes along with being quick to speak and slow to hear.

Get all the facts before you make a decision or come to a conclusion about a matter. Get all the facts before you agree or disagree about a matter. Let me add here, when you vote for someone going into government, get someone who knows what he or she is doing and in touch with the people they represent. When politicians become arrogant and unaccountable, they become out of touch and dangerous. The laws they pass become expensive, destructive, restrictive, and repressive of our freedoms.

Getting the facts of a person's needs is an important part of encouraging them. If they have a financial need, we have more information on how much to give. If they have a conflict or problem with another person, getting the facts enlightens us on how to provide solutions to the situation. This is very important because we may give wrong counsel if we don't have all the facts concerning a conflict. When everything is on the table, however, we can give precise solutions, warnings, cautions, and even rebukes.

Prayer: Father in Heaven, please help me to listen attentively before I speak. Help me to be slow to answer without fully understanding the situation. Give me the wisdom to discern and the patience to hear others out. May I never be foolish or bring shame upon myself by speaking without first listening. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

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