There Are Two Sides To Every Story

-September 12, 2023-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

“The first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him (Proverbs 18:17).

“He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly to him” (Proverbs 18:13).

There are always two sides to every story: the right one, which is truthful, and the wrong one, which is not truthful or completely honest. In the judicial system, judges and juries must listen to witnesses and evidence and decide for innocence or guilt. Some witnesses lack credibility. It takes much discussion and deliberation by the jury.

King Solomon, the writer of Proverbs, was the wisest king ever, for God gave him wisdom. He used the wisdom rightly in his early reign over Israel before his wives influenced him to worship idols. One such incident occurred when two harlots brought a case before him that seemed impossible to decide. These two women were roommates and each had a child out of wedlock. One night the first woman rolled over and crushed her baby and the baby died. She then took the dead child and placed him with the other woman in the night. In the morning the second woman found him dead, but realized he was not her son. An argument ensured with both claiming the living child was her’s and the dead one belonged to the other woman. Solomon had to decide who the real mother was of the living child.

How would you like to decide that one? Both argued their case fervently. There were no witnesses. What would Solomon decide? He called for a sword and said he would cut the child in two and give each one half. The real mother loved her son so much she didn’t want any harm to come to him. She was willing to let the other woman have him. The first woman, not the real mother said to go ahead and cut him in two, that neither would have him. Solomon then proved who the real mother was. He heard both sides and made his decision.

So many times we hear something, a rumor, and make up our minds without hearing both sides. It can lead to horrible or even fatal results. In the days of the Old West, there were times when lynch mobs hung people by taking the law into their own hands. Sometimes they hung innocent people.

We tend to believe and side with people whom we like or love, believing them above others. This is why we are to not answer before we hear both sides. Many false witnesses can sound so convincing, but be so wrong. The late Paul Harvey wrote true stories by stating all the background and facts. He would then end it by saying, “Now you know the rest of the story.” The truth never changes, lies are always evolving. One lie leads to another and another.

May the Lord help to keep our minds and hearts open and not make hasty decisions based on one side of the story. It will keep us out of trouble and avoid coming to the wrong conclusions. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Seeking the truth by hearing both sides,

Dean