‘Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?...’ Romans 14:4 NIV

Stick to what you know! Our brain doesn’t like blank spaces, so when it encounters questions without answers it searches for something to put in the blank spaces. And because we’re driven by our own perceptions, needs and prejudices, we’re not always objective. We’re blind to our blind spots and think we ‘know,’ and the results can be disastrous for our relationships. ‘I know what your real intentions are. You think I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours? I can tell by the look on your face exactly what you’re thinking.’ Such words indicate we’ve got the other person ‘pegged,’ and feel no need to consider the situation further because we couldn’t possibly be wrong. Case closed. What about such Scriptures as, ‘He who answers a matter before he hears the facts – it is a folly and shame to him’ (Proverbs 18:13 AMP). Or, ‘…Be quick to hear, slow to speak’ (James 1:19 NAS). Or, ‘Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive’ (Proverbs 17:28 NKJV). Before you ‘sound off,’ consider three things: 1) ‘For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him?’ (1Corinthians 2:11 NIV). You may suspect, guess, even feel strongly, but you don’t know their thoughts or intentions 2) ‘Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant?...’ (Romans 14:4). Much of our ‘knowing,’ is merely our own judgemental spin on things. 3) If you think you know and need to deal with the issue, try saying, ‘I have some impressions (concerns, observations, etc.) I’d like to talk about.’ Then discuss your observations, feelings and impressions as your perceptions, not ‘gospel truth,’ leaving judgement to God.