Lesson 58 Explore 1: Do You Have the Facts? | Study
Do You Have the Facts?
“When anyone replies to a matter before he hears the facts, it is foolish and humiliating.”-
(Proverbs 18.13: When anyone replies to a matter before he hears the facts, It is foolish and humiliating.)
SONGS: 126, 95
HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?
• Why must we be selective about what we read and about what we share via e-mails or text messages?
• How can we imitate Jesus if others spread false reports about us?
• What three Bible principles will help us to evaluate information accurately?
1, 2. (a) What important ability do we need to cultivate, and why? (b) What will we consider in this article?
AS TRUE Christians, we need to develop the ability to evaluate information and reach accurate conclusions.
(Proverbs 3.21-23: My son, do not lose sight of them. Safeguard practical wisdom and thinking ability; They will give you life And be an adornment for your neck; Then you will walk on your way in safety, And your foot will never stumble.)
(Proverbs 8.4, 5: “To you, O people, I am calling; I raise my voice to everyone. You inexperienced ones, learn shrewdness; You stupid ones, acquire an understanding heart.)
If we do not cultivate this ability, we will be far more vulnerable to the efforts of Satan and his world to distort our thinking.
(Ephesians 5.6: Let no man deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.)
(Colossians 2.8: Look out that no one takes you captive by means of the philosophy and empty deception according to human tradition, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ;)
Of course, only if we have the facts can we reach right conclusions. As
(Proverbs 18.13: When anyone replies to a matter before he hears the facts, It is foolish and humiliating.)
says, “when anyone replies to a matter before he hears the facts, it is foolish and humiliating.”
2. In this article, we will consider several challenges associated with obtaining the facts and reaching proper conclusions. In addition, we will consider practical Bible principles and examples that can help us improve our ability to evaluate information accurately.
DO NOT BELIEVE “EVERY WORD”
3. Why do we need to apply the Bible principle found at Proverbs 14:15? (See opening picture.)
3. Today, people are bombarded with information. Internet websites, television, and other mass media present a seemingly unending array of ideas. Many people are also flooded with e-mails, text messages, and reports from well-meaning friends and acquaintances. Since the deliberate spreading of wrong information and the distorting of facts are common, we have good reason to be cautious and to evaluate carefully what we hear. What Bible principle can help us?
(Proverbs 14.15: The naive person believes every word, But the shrewd one ponders each step.)
says: “The naive person believes every word, but the shrewd one ponders each step.”
4. How does Philippians 4:8, 9 help us in selecting what material we read, and why is it vital to have accurate information? (See also the box “ A Few Provisions to Help Us Get the Facts.”)
4. To make good decisions, we need solid facts. Therefore, we need to be highly selective and to choose carefully what information we will read.
Read Philippians 4.8, 9: Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are of serious concern, whatever things are righteous, whatever things are chaste, whatever things are lovable, whatever things are well-spoken-of, whatever things are virtuous, and whatever things are praiseworthy, continue considering these things. The things that you learned as well as accepted and heard and saw in connection with me, practice these, and the God of peace will be with you.
We should not waste our time viewing questionable Internet news sites or reading unsubstantiated reports circulated via e-mail. It is especially important to avoid websites promoted by apostates. Their whole purpose is to tear down God’s people and to distort the truth. Poor quality information will lead to poor decisions. Never underestimate the powerful effect that misleading information can have on your mind and heart.-
(1 Timothy 6.20, 21: Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, turning away from the empty speeches that violate what is holy and from the contradictions of the falsely called “knowledge.” By making a show of such knowledge, some have deviated from the faith. May the undeserved kindness be with you.)
A FEW PROVISIONS TO HELP US GET THE FACTS
What provisions have been made to keep God’s people up-to-date with accurate information?
BREAKING NEWS: The feature Breaking News on the jw.org website provides quick, brief updates to Jehovah’s people on major events happening worldwide.
NEWSROOM: This regular section on jw.org contains more extensive reports on matters affecting our freedom of worship and on our response to natural disasters.
JW BROADCASTING: This Internet television station provides video updates on the activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide.
5. What false report did the Israelites hear, and how were they affected?
5. Believing a false report can be disastrous. For example, consider what happened in Moses’ time when 10 of the 12 spies who were sent to explore the Promised Land brought back a bad report.
(Numbers 13.25-33: At the end of 40 days, they returned from spying out the land. So they came back to Moses and Aaron and all the assembly of the Israelites in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They brought back a report to all the assembly and showed them the fruitage of the land. This is what they reported to Moses: “We entered the land into which you sent us, and it is indeed flowing with milk and honey, and this is its fruitage. Nevertheless, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the fortified cities are very great. We also saw the Anakim there. The Amalekites are dwelling in the land of the Negeb, and the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites are dwelling in the mountainous region, and the Canaanites are dwelling by the sea and along the Jordan.” Then Caleb tried to calm the people as they stood before Moses by saying: “Let us go up immediately, and we are sure to take possession of it, because we can surely conquer it.” But the men who went up with him said: “We are not able to go up against the people, because they are stronger than we are.” And they kept on giving the Israelites a bad report about the land that they had spied out, saying: “The land that we passed through to spy out is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of extraordinary size. And there we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who are from the Nephilim, and in comparison we seemed like grasshoppers, both to us and to them.”)
Their exaggerated and outrageous account completely disheartened Jehovah’s people.
(Numbers 14.1-4: Then all the assembly raised their voice, and the people continued crying out and weeping all through that night. All the Israelites began to murmur against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly spoke against them, saying: “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why is Jehovah bringing us to this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Is it not better for us to return to Egypt?” They were even saying to one another: “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt!”)
Why did the people react this way? Perhaps they thought that since the majority of the spies brought a bad report, their account must be true. They refused to listen to the good report brought by the trustworthy men Joshua and Caleb.
(Numbers 14.6-10: Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who spied out the land, ripped their garments apart, and they said this to all the assembly of the Israelites: “The land that we passed through to spy out is a very, very good land. If Jehovah is pleased with us, he will certainly bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that is flowing with milk and honey. But you must not rebel against Jehovah, and you must not fear the people of the land, for we will devour them. Their protection has been removed from them, and Jehovah is with us. Do not fear them.” However, all the assembly talked of stoning them. But Jehovah’s glory appeared on the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel.)
Instead of getting the facts and showing confidence in Jehovah, they chose to believe the bad report. How foolish!
6. Why should we not be shocked if we hear outrageous reports about Jehovah’s people?
6. We need to be especially cautious when we come across reports regarding Jehovah’s people. Never forget that Satan is the accuser of God’s faithful servants.
(Revelation 12.10: I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come to pass the salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ, because the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down, who accuses them day and night before our God!)
Therefore, Jesus warned that opposers would “lyingly say every sort of wicked thing” against us.
(Matthew 5.11: “Happy are you when people reproach you and persecute you and lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against you for my sake.)
If we take that warning seriously, we will not be shocked when we hear outrageous statements about Jehovah’s people.
7. Before sending e-mails or text messages, what do we need to consider?
7. Are you the kind of person who enjoys sending e-mails and text messages to your friends and acquaintances? If so, when you see a newly published story in the news media or hear an experience, you might feel like a news reporter who wants to be the first to break an exciting story. However, before you send that text message or e-mail, ask yourself: ‘Am I certain that the information I am about to spread is true? Do I really have the facts?’ If you are not certain, you could unwittingly circulate false information among our brotherhood. If in doubt, hit the delete key, not the send button.
8. What have opposers in some lands done, and how could we inadvertently cooperate with them?
8. There is another danger in quickly forwarding e-mails and text messages. In some lands, our work is under restriction or outright ban. Our opposers in such lands may purposely circulate reports designed to instill fear or to cause us to distrust one another. Consider what happened in the former Soviet Union. The secret police, known as the KGB, spread rumors that various prominent brothers had betrayed Jehovah’s people. Many put confidence in such false reports, and as a result, they separated themselves from Jehovah’s organization. How sad! Thankfully, many later returned, but some never did. Their faith was shipwrecked.
(1 Timothy 1.19: holding faith and a good conscience, which some have thrust aside, resulting in the shipwreck of their faith.)
How can we avoid such a disastrous outcome? Refuse to circulate negative or unsubstantiated reports. Do not be naive, or gullible. Be sure you have the facts.
INCOMPLETE INFORMATION
9. What is another challenge to obtaining accurate information?
9. Reports that contain half-truths or incomplete information are another challenge to reaching accurate conclusions. A story that is only 10 percent true is 100 percent misleading. How can we avoid being misled by deceptive stories that may contain some elements of truth?-
(Ephesians 4.14: So we should no longer be children, tossed about as by waves and carried here and there by every wind of teaching by means of the trickery of men, by means of cunning in deceptive schemes.)
10. How did the Israelites nearly come to war against their brothers, and how was that avoided?
10. Consider what happened to the Israelites dwelling on the western side of the Jordan River in the days of Joshua.
(Joshua 22.9-34: After that the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh departed from the other Israelites, from Shiloh in the land of Canaan, and they returned to the land of Gilead, the land of their possession where they had settled at the order of Jehovah through Moses. When they came to the regions of the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by the Jordan, a large, impressive altar. Later the other Israelites heard it said: “Look! The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar on the frontier of the land of Canaan in the regions of the Jordan on the side belonging to the Israelites.” When the Israelites heard about it, the whole assembly of the Israelites congregated at Shiloh to go to war against them. Then the Israelites sent Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh in the land of Gilead, and ten chieftains were with him, one chieftain of each paternal house of all the tribes of Israel, each a head of his paternal house among the thousands of Israel. When they came to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh in the land of Gilead, they said to them: “This is what all the assembly of Jehovah says: ‘What is this act of unfaithfulness that you have committed against the God of Israel? You have turned back today from following Jehovah by building yourselves an altar and rebelling against Jehovah. Was the error of Peor not enough for us? We have not cleansed ourselves from it down to this day, even though a plague came upon the assembly of Jehovah. And you would turn back today from following Jehovah! If you rebel today against Jehovah, then tomorrow he will be indignant against the entire assembly of Israel. Now if it is because the land of your possession is unclean, cross over to the land of Jehovah’s possession where the tabernacle of Jehovah resides and settle among us, but do not rebel against Jehovah, and do not make us rebels by building yourselves an altar in addition to the altar of Jehovah our God. When Achan the son of Zerah committed an act of unfaithfulness regarding what was devoted to destruction, did not indignation come against all the assembly of Israel? And he was not the only man to die for his error.’” At this the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh said in answer to the heads of the thousands of Israel: “The God of gods, Jehovah! The God of gods, Jehovah! He knows, and Israel will also know. If we were rebellious and unfaithful to Jehovah, do not spare us this day. If we built ourselves an altar to turn back from following Jehovah and to offer burnt offerings, grain offerings, and communion sacrifices on it, Jehovah will exact the penalty. No, it was because of another concern that we did this, for we said, ‘In the future, your sons will say to our sons: “What do you have to do with Jehovah the God of Israel? Jehovah has put the Jordan as a boundary between us and you, the Reubenites and the Gadites. You have no share in Jehovah.” And your sons will hinder our sons from worshipping Jehovah.’ “So we said, ‘Let us by all means take action by building an altar, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but to be a witness between you and us and our descendants after us that we will carry out our service to Jehovah before him with our burnt offerings and our sacrifices and our communion sacrifices, so that your sons may not say to our sons in the future: “You have no share in Jehovah.”’ So we said, ‘If they should say that to us and to our descendants in the future, we will then say: “See the replica of Jehovah’s altar that our forefathers made, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but to be a witness between you and us.”’ It is unthinkable for us to rebel against Jehovah and to turn back today from following Jehovah by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, and sacrifices, other than the altar of Jehovah our God that is before his tabernacle!” When Phinehas the priest, the chieftains of the assembly, and the heads of the thousands of Israel who were with him heard the words that the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh spoke, they were satisfied. So Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh: “Today we know that Jehovah is among us, because you have not committed this act of unfaithfulness against Jehovah. Now you have saved the Israelites out of the hand of Jehovah.” Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest and the chieftains returned from the Reubenites and the Gadites in the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan, and they brought back word to the other Israelites. And the Israelites were satisfied with the report. The Israelites then praised God, and they said nothing more about going to war against the Reubenites and the Gadites to destroy the land in which they were dwelling. So the Reubenites and the Gadites named the altar, because “it is a witness between us that Jehovah is the true God.”)
They received a report that the Israelites living on the eastern side of the Jordan (the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh) had constructed a large, impressive altar near the Jordan. That portion of the report was true. Based on this incomplete information, those on the western side concluded that their brothers had rebelled against Jehovah, so the Israelites living on the western side assembled to wage war against those living on the eastern side.
Read Joshua 22.9-12: After that the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh departed from the other Israelites, from Shiloh in the land of Canaan, and they returned to the land of Gilead, the land of their possession where they had settled at the order of Jehovah through Moses. When they came to the regions of the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by the Jordan, a large, impressive altar. Later the other Israelites heard it said: “Look! The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar on the frontier of the land of Canaan in the regions of the Jordan on the side belonging to the Israelites.” When the Israelites heard about it, the whole assembly of the Israelites congregated at Shiloh to go to war against them.
Thankfully, before attacking, they sent a delegation of trustworthy men to get all the facts. What did the men learn? The Israelites from the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh had built the altar, not for sacrifices, but as a memorial. It was built so that in the future all would know that they too were faithful servants of Jehovah. How thankful those Israelites must have been that they did not massacre their brothers based on incomplete information but took the time to get the facts!
11. (a) How did Mephibosheth become a victim of injustice? (b) How could David have avoided this injustice?
11. As individuals, we may also become victims of injustice because half-truths or incomplete information is circulated about us. Consider the example of King David and Mephibosheth. David showed generosity and kindness to Mephibosheth, returning to him all the land of his grandfather Saul.
(2 Samuel 9.6, 7: When Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan the son of Saul came in to David, he at once fell facedown and prostrated himself. Then David said: “Mephibosheth!” to which he replied: “Here is your servant.” David said to him: “Do not be afraid, for I will certainly show loyal love to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will return to you all the land of Saul your grandfather, and you will always dine at my table.”)
Later, however, David received a negative report about Mephibosheth. Without verifying the information, David decided to strip Mephibosheth of all his property.
(2 Samuel 16.1-4: When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba, the attendant of Mephibosheth, was there to meet him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them were 200 loaves of bread, 100 cakes of raisins, 100 cakes of summer fruit, and a large jar of wine. Then the king said to Ziba: “Why have you brought these things?” Ziba replied: “The donkeys are for the household of the king to ride, the bread and the summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those who get exhausted in the wilderness to drink.” The king now said: “And where is the son of your master?” At this Ziba said to the king: “He is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give back the royal rule of my father to me.’” The king then said to Ziba: “Look! Everything that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” Ziba replied: “I bow down before you. May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”)
When David finally spoke with him, David recognized his error and restored to Mephibosheth a share of the property.
(2 Samuel 19.24-29: Mephibosheth, the grandson of Saul, also came down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his garments from the day the king left until the day he returned in peace. When he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him: “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?” To this he said: “My lord the king, my servant tricked me. For your servant had said, ‘Let me get my donkey saddled so that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ for your servant is crippled. But he slandered your servant to my lord the king. However, my lord the king is like an angel of the true God, so do whatever seems good to you. All the household of my father could have been doomed to death by my lord the king, and yet you placed your servant among those eating at your table. So what right do I have to cry out further to the king?” However, the king said to him: “Why keep on speaking like this? I have decided that you and Ziba should share the field.”)
But this injustice could have been avoided had David taken the time to get the facts instead of rashly acting on incomplete information.
12, 13. (a) How did Jesus deal with slanderous reports? (b) What can we do if someone spreads a false report about us?
12. What, though, if you are a victim of a slanderous accusation? Jesus and John the Baptizer experienced such a challenge.
Read Matthew 11.18, 19: Likewise, John came neither eating nor drinking, but people say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of man did come eating and drinking, but people say, ‘Look! A man who is a glutton and is given to drinking wine, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ All the same, wisdom is proved righteous by its works.”
How did Jesus deal with false information? He did not spend all his time and energy defending himself. Instead he encouraged people to look at the facts-what he did and what he taught. As Jesus said, “wisdom is vindicated by its works.”- ftn.
(Matthew 11.19: The Son of man did come eating and drinking, but people say, ‘Look! A man who is a glutton and is given to drinking wine, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ All the same, wisdom is proved righteous by its works.”)
13. There is a valuable lesson here that we do well to learn. At times, people may say unfair or critical things about us. We may long for justice and wish that we could do something to undo the damage to our reputation. Yet, there is something we can do. If someone spreads a lie about us, we can live in such a way that no one will believe that lie. Indeed, as Jesus’ example shows, our personal record of upright Christian conduct can wipe out half-truths and false accusations.
HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF?
14, 15. How can leaning on our own understanding become a snare?
14. Obtaining reliable facts is only one challenge to reaching good conclusions. Our human imperfection poses another major challenge. What if we have been serving Jehovah faithfully for decades? We may have developed fine thinking ability and discernment. We may be highly respected for our sound judgment. Nonetheless, can this also be a snare?
15. Yes, leaning too heavily on our own understanding can become a snare. Our emotions and personal ideas could begin to govern our thinking. We may begin to feel that we can look at a situation and understand it even though we do not have all the facts. How dangerous! The Bible clearly warns us not to lean on our own understanding.-
(Proverbs 3.5, 6: Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, And do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways take notice of him, And he will make your paths straight.)
(Proverbs 28.26: Whoever trusts in his own heart is stupid, But the one who walks in wisdom will escape.)
16. In this imaginary scenario, what happened in a restaurant, and what conclusions did Tom quickly draw?
16. Consider this imaginary scenario. While in a restaurant one evening, an experienced elder named Tom was shocked to see a fellow elder, John, sitting at another table with a woman who was not his wife. Tom observed the couple laughing, thoroughly enjoying each other’s association, and sharing an affectionate embrace. Tom became more and more disturbed. Would this lead to divorce? What would happen to John’s wife? What about John’s children? Tom had seen such heartbreaking situations before. How would you have felt if you had witnessed this scene?
17. In this imaginary scenario, what did Tom later learn, and what lesson does this teach us?
17. But wait. Although Tom quickly concluded that John had been unfaithful to his wife, did he really have the facts? Later that evening, Tom telephoned John. Can you imagine how relieved Tom felt when he learned that the woman was John’s fleshly sister, who was visiting from out of town. The two had not seen each other for many years. Because she was just passing through for a few hours, John was only able to meet her for a meal in the restaurant. His wife was unable to join them. Thankfully, Tom had not spread his wrong conclusions to others. The lesson for us? No matter how much experience we may have in Christian living, experience alone is never a substitute for the facts.
18. How might our judgment be clouded by personality conflicts?
18. Another challenge to evaluating matters accurately may be faced when we have a personality conflict with a brother in the congregation. If we constantly dwell on our differences, we may begin to look at our brother with a measure of suspicion. Thus, if we hear a negative report about this brother, we may be eager to believe it. What is the lesson? Harboring ill feelings toward our brothers can lead to distorted judgments that are not based on the facts.
(1 Timothy 6.4, 5: he is puffed up with pride and does not understand anything. He is obsessed with arguments and debates about words. These things give rise to envy, strife, slander, wicked suspicions, constant disputes about minor matters by men who are corrupted in mind and deprived of the truth, thinking that godly devotion is a means of gain.)
We can prevent our judgment from becoming clouded by refusing to allow envy and jealousy to take root in our hearts. Instead of giving in to such bad feelings, may we recognize our obligation to love our brothers and freely forgive them from the heart.-Read
(Colossians 3.12-14: Accordingly, as God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with the tender affections of compassion, kindness, humility, mildness, and patience. Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely even if anyone has a cause for complaint against another. Just as Jehovah freely forgave you, you must also do the same. But besides all these things, clothe yourselves with love, for it is a perfect bond of union.)
BIBLE PRINCIPLES WILL SAFEGUARD US
19, 20. (a) What Bible principles will help us to evaluate information accurately? (b) What will we examine in the next article?
19. Obtaining the facts and evaluating them accurately present a challenge today because of the abundance of low-quality information, reports filled with half-truths, and our own imperfection. What will help us with this challenging task? We must know and apply Bible principles. One such principle is that it is foolish and humiliating to reply to a matter before hearing the facts.
(Proverbs 18.13: When anyone replies to a matter before he hears the facts, It is foolish and humiliating.)
Another Bible principle reminds us not to accept every word without question.
(Proverbs 14.15: The naive person believes every word, But the shrewd one ponders each step.)
And finally, no matter how much experience we have in Christian living, we must be careful not to lean on our own understanding.
(Proverbs 3.5, 6: Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, And do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways take notice of him, And he will make your paths straight.)
Bible principles will safeguard us if we are certain to use facts from reliable sources to draw good conclusions and to make wise decisions.
20. But an additional challenge remains. It is the tendency to judge matters based on the outward appearance. In the next article, we will examine some common pitfalls in this area and see what can help us to avoid them.
[End of article.]