Maybe you've found yourself at one point saying, "Well, I just wanted people to know what I think," without even stopping to consider whether people want our opinion or not.
Opinions are always valuable, but the biggest worn assumptions we sometimes make is that it doesn't matter how we deliver them.
You don't have to look far and wide to find an argument. It's all over social media. It happens everywhere in the office and most probably even creeps into your home and marriage, too.
2 Timothy 2:23-24 tells us this, "Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone..."
Differing opinions almost always seem to be a recipe for relational disaster, but it doesn't have to be.
Here are three things to remember when sharing your opinions to make sure that your delivery backs up the value you want to provide to others.
1. Build Relationship
The old saying will never get old: "People will not care how much you know until they know how much you care."
It doesn't matter how well-meaning and value-giving your opinion might be. If it's not said and given in the context of relationship, it will most likely just breed offence than growth.
Trust is the capital by which we all are able to speak life to others, and trust is built best in the context of a relationship. Unless there is any form of relationship, words will only end up being white noise to a person.
2. Understand the Opinions of Others as Well
Most often the problem with offensive opinions is not that they lack wisdom or depth, but that they lack understanding. Knowing what opinions to give isn't all that matters. We also need to know where people are coming from. We miss the mark if we don't know the position of the target. Sometimes we just shoot arrows on the belief that it's the "right arrow for the job" without knowing where it should go.
3. Know When to Keep It to Yourself
The thing about opinions is that they're like zits: Some of them are just so big that they need to be "addressed" while others are just not worth the time, trouble and pain. There will be instances when your opinion is better left unsaid if it will only end up being unsolicited.
This doesn't mean that you should stop giving advice and opinion altogether, but sometimes it's just not worth arguing over. Be willing to lose your opinion rather than lose a friend.
