Baptist City Blog

Leviticus 10:19

Moses made a common mistake that people do everyday by jumping to a conclusion without getting the whole story. He assumed that Aaron and his sons had not eaten the sin offering as they were supposed to do. His speculation about those he led could have destroyed a relationship if Aaron didn't have the right attitude. If Moses would have investigated the situation and listened to the whole story, he would have never found himself in an awkward position of walking back his assumptions.

This is certainly no condemnation of Moses, but rather a reminder of how wrong we can be when we assume or speculate without getting the whole story. What may seem clear to one could truly be the furthest from the truth once we hear the whole story. Many people have been hurt because of conjecture, assumptions and speculation. Many reputations have been unjustly marred because someone assumed something about another and spread their assumption as fact. There are some important habits you need to acquire so that you can avoid the uncomfortable situation of having to backtrack from assumptions, conjectures and speculations.

First, never form an opinion off perception. What you perceive to be the situation may not be close to the truth. Moses looked at the situation and came to a false conclusion because he relied on perception. Have you ever seen something and come to a conclusion only to find out later that your perception was incorrect? Don't assume something just because you thought you saw something.

Second, don’t form an opinion without hearing both sides of a story. When you form an opinion off another’s feelings or perceptions, you have entered into a world that will bring great embarrassment later when the facts come out. Moses made his opinion without even asking Aaron why he and his sons had not eaten the burnt sacrifice. Let me encourage you to always listen to both sides of a story before you form your opinion. If someone brings up someone’s name in a conversation, you would be wise to go to that person and ask them if it is true before forming your opinions. Don't assume what another tells you is true without first asking that other person their side of the story.

Third, don't spread assumptions and speculations as truth. Many people have hurt the reputation of another because they told their opinion about a person or situation as if it was fact. You may have formed your opinion based off your assumption, but NEVER tell anyone what your opinion is without first being sure that it is true.

Reputation is hard to build but easily marred and destroyed. Don't be guilty of hurting someone’s reputation that took a lot of hard work to build simply because you assumed or speculated something about them and then told others as if it was true. Leaders must be especially careful not to form opinions or plans based off conjecture. The best policy to live by would be not to let assumptions, conjectures or speculation have any part of your life. Move slowly and hear the whole story before formulating your opinions and plans; that is the best policy.