Two Sides To A Story. Part [6] 08/16/2025 (Morning thought)

James 3:7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

This leads us to the story for today, which is a case study on how to deal with two sides to a story. We’ll listen to both sides, we will observe the resolution, and we must try by the grace of God to learn and apply the pertinent lessons learned…. 1st Kings 3:16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him. [1] The women were harlots.

Just because they were harlots should not lead us to conclude that the story is coming from questionable sources, and as such, we shouldn’t care less to listen if they come seeking a resolve, through the justice system in Solomon’s day. Solomon listened, God apparently listened, and if it is the case that a Christian happens to find himself in a similar situation, we should consider listening without bias, and without drawing conclusions, or dismissing the case, just because of the source.

The Bible teaches us to give everyone a fair shake at justice so that even if one of the women was known to be a prostitute, or any other questionable person for that matter, king Solomon must afford them due process and he must exercise impartiality in hearing their issue. In fact, when you dig a little deeper, The Lord had forbidden His people to countenance whoredom in any form, or fashion, but if the matter pertained to justice, every person must have their day in court.

Deuteronomy 1:17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!

Two Sides To A Story. Part [5] 08/16/2025 (Evening thought)

Instruction [3] Leviticus 19: 16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor; I am the Lord.

This instruction on the issue of stories, coming from the rumor mill has to do with us not being a conduit for the tales in question. For us to take pleasure in spreading tales, even those that are true, can bring persons more in alignment with the accuser of the brethren than with the Spirit of truth that emanates from Jesus. Some persons believe that tales are only fictitious in nature, and could never be true; but while in most cases they may be concocted stories there are times when they could also be true.

Definition from Oxford Languages: Tale: A fictitious or true narrative or story, especially one that is imaginatively recounted. Thus, the passage above that we just read does not deal with whether or not the story is true, it deals with the issue of being a conduit for the negatives. And one of the reasons for this instruction against being a conduit, is that embellishments are often added, to spin the story into harmony with what the conduit prefers to hear.

This can distort truth, and it can potentially do irreparable damage to the person in question….. [Acts of the Apostles pp 319] Christ-like love places the most favorable construction on the motives and acts of others. It does not needlessly expose their faults; it does not listen eagerly to unfavorable reports, but seeks rather to bring to mind the good qualities of others.

James 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!