I heard it with my own ears!

On one occasion while traveling with my wife I decided to stretch my legs at a truck-stop/McDonald's. It was later at night and there was a "variety" of people hanging around. As I was getting my wife and myself a drink at the "serve yourself" dispenser, a man stepped up beside me and asked, "Would you like some ketchup, Princess?" Admittedly I was a little taken aback. I have been called a lot of different things in my lifetime, but this was the first time I had ever been called “Princess.” I didn't much like it. As I started to look towards the man a woman's voice from behind him said, "No, thank you." I then turned to the man and said, "I sure am glad she answered you." His face flushed a little as he said with a smile, "Me, too!"

Have you ever been in a situation where you “just knew” something was a particular way, or, someone had said a specific thing, or committed an action, only to find out later that things were not as they seemed? During those times have you ever said or done things that were based upon your misunderstanding? At one time in my life I may have responded to the man at McDonald’s very quickly by saying something like, “Who are you calling Princess, Tinker Bell?” Then, he might have very likely retaliated. Why? My judgment of the situation would have been quick, incorrect and inflammatory.

As I have grown older, I have tried harder to follow the teaching of James. He wrote, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20).

I am still not perfect in this area. But I have become better since my youth. Sadly, some people never grow up. Instead of mellowing as they get older, they get more cantankerous. 

Everyone probably knows some sweet, older man or woman. Being around them is a delight. We cherish the time we spend with them. But then, there are those people we try to avoid. Why? Because being around them is so unpleasant. They complain much, criticize often and seem to always be the victim of a slight by another person. They “just know” something or someone is a certain way. People with this attitude are very hard to convince that things are not as they suppose.

Jesus taught, “Judge not according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24). Righteous judgment requires that we have the facts before we act or speak. And even then, our action should be based upon treating others the way we would want them to treat us if we were the one in need of correction. Paul taught that correction should be administered in the “spirit of gentleness” (Gal. 6:1). 

May we all strive to practice righteous judgment and administer gentle correction when it is needed. Let us truly be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to wrath so that God’s righteousness might be produced in our own life.