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                    Proverbs 18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
            
                    Our responsibility to keep unity in the church as well as in the Kingdom of God is not to be ignored.
                   
Much of, if not most of, or even all of our troubles rest on our conversations we have with others.

     In this proverb we come to a few conclusions as to how we should respond to things we hear when involved in conversations with fellow believers.

 

Satan has attacked our church with unity problems.  Discord, backbiting, and childish attitudes have risen and need to be dealt with.  This message can and will clear up a few potential problems.

 

I. Consistency in our Answer.
  Before you jump on the bandwagon, you should find out the whole story.  That includes hearing both sides.  Not just half.

Before accepting one’s word as Gospel Truth you should give the other person a fair chance to give his story.  No one in hear is above being wrong, over judgmental, or above being corrected.

Listen to both sides.  Man in court for stabbing another man.
At least he got to tell his side of the story.

 Hearing a matter is hearing both sides, all sides, the whole thing, not portions.  Then coming to a conclusion.

 II.  Comprehending before you Answer
    
We should never fill in the blanks. 

Remember we have selective hearing.  Marsha talking to me. 

                                                              (T-bone or rubbish bin)

Someimes people speak in parables.  Ask them to explain.  Disciples asked this of Jesus.

Bereans gave what was said much thought.  Thes. Received.

 You can not truly come to a conclusion if you don’t understand everything the other person is talking about.

III. Conservative in your Answer

Our tongues get us into much trouble.  We are to be aware of this. 

Haman in Ester.  He should have asked a couple questions before giving his answer.
Let is soak in, let the ink dry, sleep on it.  Don’t be hasty.

Jam 1:19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:  

Proverbs 18:13.  List of proverbs.  The answer to life is in the tongue.