“The first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him” (Proverbs 18:17). This is one of my favorite Proverbs because its wisdom is applicable to numerous situations.

This proverb exposes the danger of forgetting that there are always at least two sides to any situation. The first evidence we hear can sometimes sound like the only evidence we need. People who are invested in a matter can make arguments that sound very convincing to those who are not versed in the whole situation.

It can be easy to make up our minds without getting all the facts. We watch news stories from our preferred media outlet, hear some gossip from a trusted friend, see a post someone shared on social media - and we immediately reach a verdict and pass sentence. In doing so, we are often shown to be fools when the rest of the story (the facts we didn’t bother getting) comes to light.

In Israel, judges were to get all the facts before making a judgment (Deut. 1:16-17). It is essential for a parent to do this in untangling disputes between children. Justice is impossible without listening to all the evidence before forming a fixed opinion. “A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart… He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him” (Prov. 18:2, 13). We sometimes admire the quick-witted person who is ready with an immediate response, but Solomon said such people can be fools if they are more concerned with speaking and being respected than in hearing and understanding.

Let’s make sure we are quick to hear all the facts before we draw conclusions and respond.