LOOK BEFORE LEAPING (TO CONCLUSIONS)

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (Mt. 7:1-2).

A Christian friend of mine attended a high school musical. As the play began, he was impressed by the quality of the singing and acting. So was everyone else. The auditorium was filled, and the applause was constant, EXCEPT for a woman sitting nearby. She just sat there, barely acknowledging that the students were acting their hearts out.

My friend then watched her on every occasion in which everyone else applauded. But she barely acknowledged the performances. He thought, "Why did this woman bother attending if she intended only to sit there like a statue? Doesn't she realize that these young people need encouragement when they work so hard to entertain?"

After this my friend became so distracted that he barely paid attention to the last act of the play. "What’s her problem?" he thought, "Perhaps she’s jealous because her children were not selected for the musical. Or maybe she’s just a mean, unappreciative person!”

As the play ended, the audience sprang to their feet and awarded the kids with a standing ovation. It was at that moment that my friend realized why the woman never applauded. As she rose, she raised a solitary hand up to show her approval. It was the only hand she possessed.

My friend felt ashamed. HE had been mean and judgmental. He silently asked God to forgive him, and then approached the woman. “Weren’t the kids great?”, he asked. She replied, "Oh yes! I thoroughly enjoyed the play." It was only then that he could honestly say the same.

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It is easy to judge, but unless we know all the facts, we must avoid “leaping” to conclusions. It is far better to give others the benefit of the doubt, which is precisely what we desire from others.

A Recommitted Me in 2023!

Dennis