March 6 -- "Duck! (Or Get Clobbered)"

 Today’s Reading: Proverbs 22

"Duck! (Or Get Clobbered)"

The Message paraphrase puts Proverbs 22:3 like this, “A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks; a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.” (MSG)

Unlike God, who sees the future with crystal clarity, we humans are unable to do so. We don’t know what lies around the next corner. We are blind to what awaits us. Accordingly, God in His mercy has granted us three faculties to manage our journey into the future: truth, trust, and prudence.

By God’s truth, we can see God’s master plan for the future. We know what awaits us as we draw nearer to the last days. We also know what awaits us when our life on earth is done. What a blessing that God has shown us the end of the story.

By trust, we anticipate and expect good from the hand of God, who has promised that He has a plan for each one of us – a plan of blessing. When we put our trust in Him, we need not fear what lies ahead. Whatever it is, the Lord will make it work for our good and our blessing.

By prudence, we avoid the pitfalls and injury that come to those who proceed in the face of danger. Prudence is the faculty by which we exercise good judgement and common sense as we make choices in life. The Hebrew word translated “prudent” in verse 3 means to be subtle, shrewd, crafty, sly, sensible. It is the God-given means by which we can step out of the way and protect ourself from unnecessary pain and sorrow. This can apply to something as simple as avoiding sharp knives or eating foods that cause indigestion to more serious matters such as avoiding teachers of false doctrine, entering an unhealthy relationship, or giving in to our sinful nature.

The opposite of prudence is foolishness. Foolish ("the simple") people are often reckless, attempting things that the prudent person avoids. As the old saying goes, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” Without prudence, the foolish and inexperienced person is headstrong and proceeds down the path of danger.  They take undue risks because they haven’t considered the outcome of a situation. And, when they do, they end up getting "clobbered."

Whatever choices you are making in your life, be sure to pause before proceeding. Consider the potential pitfalls and injury that could come from a hasty or unwise decision. Do not proceed without taking the necessary precautions to hide yourself from injury. Do yourself a favor by using your God-given prudence.