The Whole Story

Read Proverbs 18

The first to speak in court sounds right—until the cross-examination begins.

Proverbs 18:17

Judges can’t get by with swift, impulsive decisions in court. They don’t make a final ruling until they have heard both sides of their cases. Making a well-informed judgment requires questioning, listening, and patience. Analyzing numerous stories leads a judge to a knowledgeable decision.

We should listen to the stories people feed us with exactly the same caution. This proverb is a useful tip for wise listening: Judge a speaker’s words by putting them beside someone else’s. We should be objective and fair, not putting too much weight in our initial assumptions. We must not be gullible or hasty. Instead, we should be swift to test what people claim. To “cross-examine” is to be discerning and to pursue the truth.

A WORD FOR TODAY

Don’t lose the truth among the sides of a story.

Today, Lord, help me to consider carefully the stories I hear. I want to learn how to listen, to question, and to trust people.