PROVERBS 18: UNWANTED OPINIONS

Many offenses and much strife come from voicing unsolicited opinions. Why do we find such delight in sharing our opinions? I think it is a matter of pride; we want others to think we have knowledge. Sometimes we want them to think we know more than we do. But if we are honest, we will admit that often we give opinions about things we don’t really know much about. We want people to do what we think we would do if we were in their situation. But how can we possibly know what we would do in a situation in which we have never found ourselves?

Opinions are usually birthed from judgment. Romans 14:4 (NIV) says, Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? Each of us is a servant of God, and He alone has the right to judge us.

First Thessalonians 4:11 (NIV) says, Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands.... Just think about how much better the world would be if people would stop offering opinions about things that are none of their business. I will admit that at one time I was a very nosy person. I wanted to know what was going on in everyone’s life, and I had an abundance of opinions about their choices. Thankfully, God has patiently taught me how foolish it is to behave that way. Although I have not arrived at the place of perfection in this area, I have come a long way. I often have to say to myself, “Joyce, that is none of your business!”