Jumping to Conclusions

Guthrie Dean

An elderly lady, the self-appointed supervisor of a little rural village’s morals, accused a workman of having turned to drink because “with her own eyes” she had seen his wheelbarrow standing outside a tavern. The accused made no defense, but that evening he parked his wheelbarrow outside her house and left it there all night.

The Bible also has somewhat to say regarding this unholy exercise of “jumping to conclusions.” Only the Bible calls it “bearing false witness.” 2 Tim. 3:3 refers to such people as false accusers. 1 Tim. 6:4 calls the practice evil surmising. Rom. 1:30 says they are inventors of evil things, and 1 Pet. 4.15 refers to them as busybodies.