“Every man has a right to his opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts.” – Bernard Mannes Baruch
Consider the lilies of the field… Matt 6:28
Consider the lilies of the field… Matt 6:28
“Every man has a right to his opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts.” – Bernard Mannes Baruch
thedailylily.com 
If our facts are in error then that must mean that our opinion is not based on reality or on truth. And if we base our opinions on a half-truth or a lie then
that opinion has no weight or validity or value.
I was listening to the Gospel of John, today…a lovely gift from a good friend. I heard the crowd saying concerning Jesus…to the the effect…that they were voicing their opinion that Jesus could NOT be the Messiah because one of the first facts about the Jewish Messiah that they ALL knew was that He would come from the House of David and be born in Ephratha (Bethlehem).
They ASSUMED that Jesus was born in Nazareth because that was where He was living. So their conclusion was that He could not be the Messiah.
Opinions based on lies are worthless.
It seems if we really understand and can apply this quote we will be better communicators. We will be alert to keep our facts straight and accurate and clearly delineated from our opinions.
I have always heard and believe that fact is not always truth. It seems to me to have an opinion is just that. But, to give fact calls for some responsibility.
We must be cautious in what we say. We must make sure that what we are saying is the truth and that we are not being a false witness to others. Proverbs 21:28 “A false witness will be cut off, but a credible witness will be allowed to speak.” We have the right to have our own opinion, but we must make sure our opinion and God’s word match before we share it with others. Words are powerful and we must be cautious not to misuse them.
What about lack of words? The Holy Spirit has given the gift of encouragement, teaching, word of wisdom, word of knowledge, and other word gifts. What does God think and what are the consequences for the one with the word and fails to give as well as the one waiting for God to give the Word?
Not giving out the words God has given us to speak out could cause someone to despair if it were the words of encouragement. If the other words are not spoken the would-of-been hearer may not understand the sin in their lives and the call for repentance. When God gives the word He must have already prepared the hearer to action. It is not about us but those that God wants to touch with his love. For example in the book of Jonah, Jonah was sent to a nation to deliver a message. He didn’t want to do it. He didn’t even care for the people. But it wasn’t about Jonah. God wanted to send a Word to a nation and when the word was spoken the peoples hearts were convicted and changed. They repented and their faith grew. What if Jonah had not spoken the words God gave him? A nation would have been lost. Their lifeline of hope and faith would have been severed. By this example of Jonah, we must speak out the words God has given us or we have severed the line of hope, repentance, faith, and love that God has extended to that person. HOW SAD!
In conjunction with what Sara & Rena said, keeping silent when we should be witnessing because we don’t want to offend or be rejected or in fear of repercussions ….these things are not in keeping with God’s Word about “going forth and making disciples of all nations.”
“A word spoken in due season is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”
MG, I have thought a little about your comment on rejection, fear, etc. Would that kind of thinking fall into ‘judge not that you be not judged, for with what measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Matthew 7:1,2
I really don’t think Jesus was saying you are not to have an opinion, or not to criticize or the condemnation of wrongdoing. I think He was saying not censoriousness, the spirit of faultfinding that overlooks one’ own shortcomings while assuming the role of supreme judge in regard to the sins or shortcomings of others. And, this brings me to blog on ‘name calling.’ What makes your skin color, etc superb to mine or mine to yours.
I thought about what Sara asked about having the word and not giving it out and what Rena wrote about a nation being lost…that really gets one to thinking of all the times and chances God gave to say just one word and it wasnt said…….all the lives down through the generations that may have been lost or lives that may have been lived differently…..I am very thankful to this website for all the words that are being (said) that others may read and grow and learn and be encouraged and that souls for Gods Kingdom can be won……..dj
Good thoughts DJ…words are important. Maybe if we could think of each one of them as an individual drop of medicine. And then be constantly conscious that how and /or the amount we use could bring life or poison to the hearer ” …we would choose them much more carefully. “Words kill, words give life;
they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.” (Prov 18:22 MSG)
I have always understood that words come from the heart. They are made in the heart like cake baked in oven. You get the cake that comes out of the oven. You get the words that come out of the heart. All the thought in the world how to make words sound good can’t change the motive of the heart. Action speaks louder than words. The motive of the heart has a sound that overrides the mind patch up of words.
According to God’s Word we better start getting our hearts clear of wrong motives. Like hate, prejudice, lies, deception, etc. Read James 3:9-118 and pause on this one “does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?
It is hard trying to listen to people talk that has to poke around inside of them looking for some words they think appropriate because their heart is self-seeking. I love talking with people that are free!!!!
True Sara …I thought on what you said about the motive of the heart having a sound that overrides the mind patch up of words…..and how words come from the heart……that too is my understanding …for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks……I am reminded of the very creation when God said let there be light …and there was…for the Holy Spirit took action……and Jesus wants us to be just like Him….hearts full of truth that reach outward not inward with words that lead to a positive action that touches the world and brings souls that He (Jesus) wants for His kingdom…..You wrote once in a teaching about how sound brings light….This latest response of yours made me think of this teaching…I right now cant recall what teaching book it is in but …you said “sound brings light”… I got (and Jesus said he was the light …and He took action.)… He is the Word and Action….I see what you are saying Sara….Action speaks louder than words…..dj
Sara, I read the James verses. No wonder it’s hard for you to listen to ‘poking’ people because the verses said where bitter envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing will be there!
Your blog “How Free Are You” says free people ‘know’ the truth. They must or they couldn’t be so transparent. I like listening to transparent people too. In James it said one of the ways that wisdom (which I think is like transparency) comes is from a willingness to yield. People who always yield to the Holy Spirit are transparent because He is Truth.
I think these blogs and the one ‘study with Sara’ from March 22 on rejection and the ‘Spring Fashion Accesories” all tie in and God is speaking to us so we can be a spring of fresh water and water many