THE DANGER OF ASSUMING

“A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.” – Proverbs 18:2

It is dangerous to live and act based on mere assumptions. Foolishness is making decisions based on false assumptions. The foolish virgins in Matthew 25:1-13, wrongly assumed that if they ran out of oil, they could easily get from the wise virgins. Don’t assume that because someone knows you very well and is a rich or nice person, the person will definitely help you when you are need.

When it comes to relationships, many people make a lot of wrong assumptions. These assumptions can lead to faulty comparisons and rash decisions. They can also ruin relationships. The fact that a lady called your husband to help her with her children’s school fees, doesn’t mean your husband is having an affair with her. The fact that someone came to church in the latest car and lives in a Porsche part of town, doesn’t mean the person has no financial problems. The Psalmist in Psalm 73 had some wrong assumptions about the rich. Basically, he thought they were living on a bed of roses with no worries and troubles, until God opened his eyes to see the unseen problems and dangers the rich who have no place for God in their lives go through. The Psalmist realized a truth about life: the grass is greener on the other side, but there are a lot of unpleasant things under the grass that you can’t see until you look deeper. Underneath the seemingly green and better grass of your neighbour, could be multiple financial, health or integrity problems. When the Psalmist got to see that he had made wrong assumptions and drawn the wrong conclusions about the rich, he said in Psalm 73:2, ‘I was so foolish and ignorant…’ He realized it is foolishness to make assumptions based on facts you haven’t investigated, tested or tried, or based on mere appearances.

One of the traits of a foolish person is closing his mind to the true state of things about oneself, other people, situations around him and about life (Proverbs 18:2). The foolish virgins wrongly assumed they had enough time on their hands to quickly dash to the market for oil and come back and meet the bridegroom. Don’t assume that because you are young or not suffering from a terminal disease, you have all the time in the world. We must be wise to see and know that every day, every hour God blesses us with is a unique opportunity to straighten out our relationship with God and get actively involved in the things God wants us to do. To assume you have time is to foolishly wait for tomorrow to do what can and should be done today.

The foolish virgins wrongly assumed that even though they were late, by simply saying Lord, Lord, open to us, the bridegroom would reconsider and open the door for them to come in. Don’t assume you are a Christian because you use words from the Bible or know the names of God. Don’t have a hunch, imagine or conclude that this is what God likes or what God wants you to do. Find out in the place of prayer and through the study of God’s Word, what pleases God and what God wants you to do. 2 Timothy 2:19 says “The Lord knows those who are His”. This is not something you play guesswork with or assume. You can’t say I guess I am a Christian since I go to church every Sunday. Be sure that when you call on God, you are seen, recognized, accepted and acknowledged by heaven as a true child of God.

I pray God grants us a better and clearer understanding of His will so our decisions aren’t made based on false assumptions. May God help us to live wisely; think wisely, act wisely.

PRAYER

Father, reveal to me through Your Spirit every truth I need to know. Let my decisions be guided by Your truth not by false assumptions and conclusions. Put away folly and foolishness from my life in Jesus name I pray. Amen!

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