1-- Instead Of Speculating And Assuming

Instead of Speculating and Assuming (by Bill Stevenson) First, every human being has assumed and speculated about others. In my lifetime it was most common in two situations: 1.) When I listened to sports talk shows, especially the week before the Super Bowl of American football. Usually the speculations, assumptions, and the predictions were almost completely wrong. The game ended up to be very different and the players who did the best had not been mentioned the week before. 2.) Some of the women in my life often stated their speculated assumptions about what I was thinking. Their statements were all wrong because most of the time I don’t think like most men do because of my commitment to thinking as the Bible indicates is best. Even though the word assume is used more when arguments between couples occur, the assumptions were caused by speculation. I did not realize that until I looked at the definitions in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary: speculate= 1 a : to meditate on or ponder a subject : REFLECT b : to review something idly or casually and often inconclusively 2 : to assume a business risk in hope of gain; especially : to buy or sell in expectation of profiting from market fluctuations transitive senses 1 : to take to be true on the basis of insufficient evidence : THEORIZE <speculated that a virus caused the disease> 2 : to be curious or doubtful about : WONDER <speculates whether it will rain all vacation> synonym see THINK assume= 5 : to take as granted or true : SUPPOSE On July 19, 2005, my wife and I watched a comedy fantasy movie about a couple who was killed on their wedding day. In Germany, weddings are first done at a government building and many do not do church weddings (which have no legal certificate) afterwards. The wife-to-be was surprised to be told by her husband-to-be to change out of her fancy wedding gown into a regular dress, seeing a receipt for a weekend travel ticket for two, a phone number by his phone, and when she looked out the window his neighbor lady was kissing him. She assumed that he was not even faithful during their engagement period. So while she was driving to the government building for the wedding, she got into an argument with her husband-to-be about her idea that when men see women, they just want to have sex. He tried to assure her that he wasn’t like that. She didn’t see a red light and they were killed in the intersection when the car was hit by a garbage truck. Assumption was fatal for the assumer and for an innocent individual. She found out later in the movie that the receipt for the two weekend airplane tickets was because her husband-to-be bought them for a co-worker’s surprise trip for his wife, the phone number was of a travel agency he used for the honeymoon trip plans, and the neighbor lady was only responding to the wedding news. He said that he could have had sex with her many times, but did not because of his only love. Later in the movie, there was a taxi cab driver who was attracted to a coffee shop single mother. But he was self-conscious by his physical appearance, overweight especially in the stomach, heavy beard, and shabby clothes, and assumed that she would never want to date him. One day she asked him to drive her and her son to a special radio call-in talk show. He listened to the first caller and found out the show was to find her someone to date. He called in and pretended he was someone else. She was humored by what he said he liked to do. 1

Others called in, but she chose him. He was shocked and could not phone in to make arrangements for the date. Later through some fantasy happenings, he found out that his assumption about her was completely wrong. She even jogged with him. This movie made me realize that speculating and assuming are sins! My wife was shocked by the realization and responded by arguing that they are needed for living life. She said they are needed in any relationship in order to understand the other individual. I told her that throughout my life, I had avoided doing such in relating to anyone. Instead, I looked for good things about the others and tried to serve or please them as Jesus Christ indicated believers should do. My wife said that just made me open to being taken advantage of and hurt. I agreed, but that it was the only way to have peace and joy from God. One who speculates and assumes may receive some good results and good feelings, but he or she cannot have the wonderful peace and joy from God. There are no commandments in the Bible to speculate, assume, or even have an opinion about someone else. Peace and joy from God is only given after righteousness is done (even confession of a wrong). Romans 14:17 says, “For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Most speculation, assumption, and opinion statements which that I have heard in many ours of sports talks shows about a coming season or a championship game or series were proved to be wrong or untrue. Such is not righteousness. Guessing what a spouse thinks is not righteousness either. So what should we do instead? Last night during the discussion with my wife and very early this morning while I was still in bed, I was surprised that nothing new came to my mind. Since most speculations, assumptions, opinions turn out to be untrue, it would seem obvious that we should instead just use our thinking time focused on truths. Truthfulness is emphasized a lot in the Bible and there are many examples of untruthfulness resulting in bad consequences. Remember Satan via the snake, Abram lying 3 times, Achan (Joshua 7), King David, Judas, and Peter. The Apostle Paul started the list in Philippians 4:8 on things to think about with “truth”. He could have chosen with good reason any of the following words. He did the same with the spiritual armor list in Ephesians 6. Before going on, think through what you know of the Bible searching for examples of truthfulness that was blessed, exhortations about truthfulness, and rebukes against untruthfulness (like the ones in 1 Corinthians and Galatians against the false teachers in Christian churches). So how can we know what are God-pleasing truths and wisdom. The first chapters of 1 Corinthians indicate there are two origins of truth and wisdom: from God and from human thinking. I believe that the best source of God-pleasing truths and wisdom is of course found in the Bible and the perfect teacher of such is the Holy Spirit. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 proclaims: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man [or woman] of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” John 16:13 reports that Jesus Christ promised, “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.” Jesus Christ, the compassionate High Priest of all believers, uses the Holy Spirit for the sanctification (towards Christ-likeness) process for the just mentioned. And I find the best way to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit is for me to think as Proverbs 3:5-6 states: “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” What does such mean to you. So why do you need to speculate or assume in relation to anyone? You know from experience that such only gives you stress and causes relationship problems. Instead, why don’t you do more thinking about truthfulness, looking for things to be thankful for, and opportunities to serve others? Such usage of time will always result in wonderful feelings of peace and joy. 2