Making the Wrong Assumptions — Morning Devotions

Subscribe to the ‘Morning Devotions’ podcast

Transcript

Back in the 1990s, there was a series of TV commercials promoting a financial institution, and the idea was that we could trust this company with our money. And one ad showed a man preparing a meal for his wife and everything was going wrong. Their white cat jumps up onto the kitchen bench, hits the handle of the saucepan, spilling red bolognese sauce all over the cat’s tail and belly. The helpful husband had been busy cutting up the vegetables. He turns around, picks up the cat by the scruff of the neck. Just at that moment, his wife arrives home, walks in the kitchen, seeing her husband holding a large knife in one hand, the cat in the other hand, and a red mess on the cat and on the floor below.

Now you can imagine what she immediately assumes. Might be a funny story, but it tells me that often when we see situations or even people sometimes we make quick assumptions and fill in the gaps ourselves, and we can be wrong. We judge what is happening before us based on our limited perceptions and limited information.

For example, it’s easy to see someone sitting on a footpath looking dishevelled. We immediately think they’re an alcoholic or take drugs or is an unemployed person. They must be homeless, we think. Well, these judgments are made just by looking at this guy. But how do we know what’s going on? The man may not be any of these things, and unfortunately we make these assumptions all the time. They can be inaccurate and false.

For example, at work you get on well with a colleague. You share a laugh. The atmosphere between you is friendly, harmonious, but one day this guy is very quiet and withdrawn, doesn’t speak to you. You immediately think, What have I done to upset him? Well, the reality is you haven’t done anything. He’s feeling unwell. He doesn’t want to talk today. You again made the wrong assumption, but it has nothing to do with you. You took it personally. You misinterpreted what was going on.

Isn’t it a shame that some people make false judgments about us based on our outward experiences?

If you drive a new or near new car, your friends may think you’re better off than they are. That’s quite unfair and unhelpful. Assumptions are often unhelpful, misguided, inaccurate. Have you ever formed an opinion about someone without having all the facts? Well, I think we’ve all been there. It’s easy to jump to conclusions, especially today’s fast-paced information saturated world.

The prevalence of photo filters and editing tools in today’s culture can serve as a picture of how we perceive others. We use filters to present idealised versions of ourselves. And over time, this shapes not just how we see ourselves, but how we see others. And the same applies in our personal lives. We impose filters on others, we label them or judge them on incomplete or skewed information.

There’s a helpful verse I’m looking at in the Bible, John 7:24. This is what Jesus said, Stop judging by mere appearances and instead judge correctly.

Hope 103.2 is proudly supported by

This New Testament verse encourages us to look beyond the surface to make fair and just judgments. It’s a reminder that it’s not our place to condemn others, but rather to discern right from wrong, and that can take a lifetime of experience. It’s also about our perspective, how we view others, if you like, the lens through which we look at others.

If we are to be honest with ourselves, we usually see others filtered by our bias, judgments, and perceptions. How well do you understand other people’s views and experiences?

Are you able to put yourself in their shoes and to imagine what life is like for them?

This is what we call empathy. When you’re having a conversation, listen to that other person respectfully, without interrupting them, focus on trying to understand their perspective, even if you don’t agree with it. But here’s the thing. God looks at people with love and compassion, grace and love. The Bible even says he calls us His children. We’re part of his family. God is love because that is his very nature.

Jesus said to the religious leaders of his time – You judge by human standards I pass judgement on no one, but if I do judge, he said, my decisions are true because I stand with the Father who sent me. That’s from John 8:15-16. Jesus saw people as God saw them, and he calls on us to do the same.

Let’s Pray

Lord, I don’t want to be the kind of person who constantly makes assumptions about others, jumping to false conclusions, causing misunderstandings. I want to be your instrument of peace and care about the lives of others. Help me to make the right kinds of judgments. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Feature image: Canva