“When clarity is championed in conversations, communication is accurate, misunderstandings are avoided and relationships flourish.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – December 14, 2022
I, wisdom, dwell with prudence and find out knowledge and discretion. Proverbs 8:12, NKJV
Our modest team of six at the National Christian Foundation of Georgia has permission to ask me at any time, “Are you sure? Boyd, are you sure we want to add that event to the calendar next quarter since we are hosting a similar experience a month later?” This a very fair and helpful question that clarifies…clarifies our purpose, but most of all clarifies our capacity. A life or team that seeks to live or serve beyond capacity runs a high risk of compromising excellence for the sake of what seems like more good outcomes. Good opportunities become the enemy of the best results. If we pause to ponder, we tend to discover a looming issue of timing. A good idea, yes…but it’s bad timing. Prudence takes time to clarify what’s best to discern what’s next.
Notice in Proverbs who prudence hangs out with… wisdom, knowledge, and discretion…not a bad trio to better understand how to live life. Wisdom dwells with prudence…wow…to dwell is an ongoing experience of being present as the Word (Jesus) was made flesh and dwelt among us.
As you develop the habit of prudence in decision-making…you have immediate access to wisdom. And, as you apply the wisdom from a prudent mindset you discover knowledge and discretion…knowledge to understand what to do and discretion in how to do what you do. Prudence is not a prune-faced Puritan, joy killer…rather a life-giving grace to wisely live life.
“According to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will” (Ephesians 1:7-9, NKJV).
C.S. Lewis describes prudence as practical common sense, “Prudence means practical common sense, taking the trouble to think out what you are doing and what is likely to come of it. Nowadays most people hardly think of Prudence as one of the cardinal virtues. In fact, because Christ said we could only get into His world by being like children, many Christians have the idea that, provided you are ‘good’, it does not matter being a fool. But that is a misunderstanding. In the first place, most children show plenty of ‘prudence’ about doing the things they are really interested in and think them out quite sensibly. In the second place, as St Paul points out, Christ never meant that we were to remain children in intelligence: on the contrary. He told us to be not only “as harmless as doves, but also as wise as serpents”. He wants a child’s heart, but a grown-up’s head.” Prudence, a pathway to practical common sense!
Take the time to become a prudent person and you will save yourself time, money, and relational conflict. You save time by not having to redo a project or have to exert an exorbitant amount of energy to explain how you were not thorough in your research and failed to confirm your assumptions. You save money by not having to pay twice for the same service call. For example, if you attempt to do something yourself just to save money, you may very well spend money twice…once for your efforts, and secondly for an expert to redo your work, plus the original job. Prudence saves you from relational sickness. When clarity is championed in conversations, communication is accurate, misunderstandings are avoided and relationships flourish. Like lifting the fog from driving on a curvy road, you know where to slow down and you enjoy your company along the way. Apply prudence to your life, and you will see God’s will for your life.
“I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16, NKJV).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me pause and pray before I run ahead of you and miss your best, through Christ’s love, and in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
What project or person is the Holy Spirit giving you pause to be prudent and wise in the decision-making process? Take additional time to pray, process, and discern.
Related Reading
1 Samuel 16:18; Proverbs 12:16, 23; 14:8, 15, 18; 22:3; Isaiah 52:13
Worship Resource
We The Kingdom: Goodness of God
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