.jpg)
Title: The Wise Prudent
Author: Marion Clark
Text: Proverbs 12:16-23
Introduction
Can you identify this Bible verse? "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless." It is James 1:26. This sentence encapsulates well the central message of our passage. The one who is unable to bridle his tongue inevitably deceives his own heart.
Text
Instead of reading the whole text, I am going to take the first and last verses together, as they form the bookends for the section with their contrast of the fool and the prudent person.
16 The vexation of a fool is known at once,
but the prudent ignores an insult.
23 A prudent man conceals knowledge,
but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
At the heart of the distinction between the fool and the prudent person is self-control. The fool has none, and the prudent person excels with it. The fool is a reactor. He reacts without thought to outside circumstances, especially to vexing, frustrating circumstances. Say something, do something that he doesn't like, and he will fly off the handle.
In contrast, the prudent person thinks before reacting.
Every prudent man acts with knowledge. 13:16
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way. 14:8
The prudent gives thought to his steps. 14:15
The prudent sees danger. 22:3
It is possible for the wicked to be prudent. Indeed, the same Hebrew word translated in Proverbs as prudent is applied to the serpent in the garden. "The serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made."
For Proverbs, the distinction between one who is prudent and one who is crafty is their intent. One is prudent who desires to be virtuous and to promote good. He is crafty if his intent is bent toward wickedness.
Why does the prudent ignore an insult? He sizes up the situation and discerns that a reaction will stir up trouble and more folly. Why d ...
Author: Marion Clark
Text: Proverbs 12:16-23
Introduction
Can you identify this Bible verse? "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless." It is James 1:26. This sentence encapsulates well the central message of our passage. The one who is unable to bridle his tongue inevitably deceives his own heart.
Text
Instead of reading the whole text, I am going to take the first and last verses together, as they form the bookends for the section with their contrast of the fool and the prudent person.
16 The vexation of a fool is known at once,
but the prudent ignores an insult.
23 A prudent man conceals knowledge,
but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
At the heart of the distinction between the fool and the prudent person is self-control. The fool has none, and the prudent person excels with it. The fool is a reactor. He reacts without thought to outside circumstances, especially to vexing, frustrating circumstances. Say something, do something that he doesn't like, and he will fly off the handle.
In contrast, the prudent person thinks before reacting.
Every prudent man acts with knowledge. 13:16
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way. 14:8
The prudent gives thought to his steps. 14:15
The prudent sees danger. 22:3
It is possible for the wicked to be prudent. Indeed, the same Hebrew word translated in Proverbs as prudent is applied to the serpent in the garden. "The serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made."
For Proverbs, the distinction between one who is prudent and one who is crafty is their intent. One is prudent who desires to be virtuous and to promote good. He is crafty if his intent is bent toward wickedness.
Why does the prudent ignore an insult? He sizes up the situation and discerns that a reaction will stir up trouble and more folly. Why d ...
There are 11477 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
