Proverbs 25:8

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about how we handle problems:

Proverbs 25:8 (ESV)

do not hastily bring into court,

for what will you do in the end,

when your neighbor puts you to shame?

We all have "issues" with our neighbors and/or friends and/or business partners. The issue in this proverb is not the fact that we have "issues" with others, but the "resolution" of the issues. One principle that should always be our target in the resolution of problems with others is that "how we handle a problem should never become a newer problem." That seems to be the central thought of this proverb. Don't let how you handle the problem to become the problem. Solomon is telling us that time is one aspect to consider when resolving an issue. When we strive to solve the issue "hastily" we put ourselves at further risk. Time, of course, is not the real issue. The real issue is what we do with our time to prepare for the resolution of the issue. What Solomon is teaching here is to make sure you do your due diligence in the resolution of problems with others. Solomon does not want us to get to the point in the resolution that we are humiliated. He wants us to make sure we know what we are doing to properly resolve the issues we have with others. Don't go hastily to argue ... do your due diligence.

Do not let how you handle the problem to become the problem.