The Prudent Sees Danger

[Christsfreeservant]

“The prudent sees danger and hides himself,​

but the simple go on and suffer for it.​

The reward for humility and fear of the Lord​

is riches and honor and life.​

Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;​

whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.​

Train up a child in the way he should go;​

even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:3-6 ESV)​

If we are prudent, we are sensible, wise, careful, cautious, watchful and guarded. We are on the alert for danger, and we do not go where we know we might be tempted to do evil. We do not tempt fate. We don’t play with sin. If we are watching something on TV or on the internet, and all of a sudden it takes a wrong turn, we turn it off. If the internet brings up an inappropriate advertisement, we click out of it. We guard our hearts and minds against all that is evil, and we do not allow ourselves to stray.

But the foolish, the immature, the childish, the irresponsible, the self-indulgent, and the self-absorbed go on, and are punished for it, i.e. they pay the price of their selfish and foolish choices based on their sinful desires. And the punishment may simply be what their wrong choices do to themselves, to their own minds, bodies, and hearts. But it could result in the destruction and/or in the dissolution of a marriage, or their own children following in their footsteps. Or it could result in a legal arrest and imprisonment, as well.

From a spiritual perspective, though, we must know that the Scriptures teach us who profess faith in Jesus Christ that if sin is what we practice, and not holiness, righteousness, and obedience to our Lord and to his New Covenant commands, that we will not inherit eternal life with God. For Jesus Christ gave his life up for us on that cross, and he put our sins to death with him, and he rose from the dead, victorious over sin, Satan, death, and hell, so we will die to sin and now walk (in conduct) in obedience to our Lord.

And there is a reward for humility and the fear of the Lord. For if we are humble, we are unpretentious, modest, meek, and the opposite of arrogant and prideful. And the fear of the Lord is in giving him honor, value, and respect, but also it is believing him and what his word teaches, thus taking it seriously, and putting it into daily practice in our lives. And the rewards are eternal rewards, with spiritual riches (fruitfulness, productivity, abundance) of grace, salvation from sin, and the hope of eternal life with God in heaven.

But thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked. For they are those who are easily persuaded to sin against God and against other humans; who are easily tempted to do what they know is evil, and what they know will hurt other humans. And if they frequent the internet, and if they normally go to places on the internet where they know they might be tempted to sin, they are just opening themselves wide to committing sin habitually and deliberately, and to continue on that path without the hope of salvation.

Now, when this says to train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it, this may not mean what we may have been taught that it means. For, in reality, there are no guarantees that we can influence anyone in such a way that fully determines the way in which they will go, for every human being makes their own choices. I was severely abused as a child by a wicked father who exemplified hypocrisy, but I did not become an abuser, and I am not now living as a hypocrite.

And “in the way he should go” could also be translated as “in accordance with his way,” in the way in which he is bent, i.e. according to his natural inclination. So this would be more like if we give way to children’s natural and sinful inclinations, and we spoil them, and if we yield to their temper tantrums and to their manipulative natures, then we are preparing them to potentially become the self-indulgent, the self-absorbed, and the selfish who demand their own way who will pay the price for their rebellious ways.

So, first of all we need to be those who are setting the right example of what it means to be a Christian and a follower of Christ. And this is not saying that we will be absolutely perfect in every way all of the time in setting the right example, but we should be consistent and persistent in our walks of faith in obedience to our Lord, and sin must no longer be what we practice. And then we can lead others to follow the Lord in walks of obedience to his commands, and no longer to walk in sin, so they have eternal life with God.

Gospel:[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

For Our Nation

An Original Work / September 11, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
Recording Via Gerry Peters, music producer and arranger

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.

Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.

Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.

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The Prudent Sees Danger
An Original Work / September 1, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

 

[Aaron112]

It seems to me there may be dozens (hundreds? thousands?) visitig the forum, some joining,
who really are trying to be wise, prudent? Yet totally unaware of the quicksand all around us. (false teachings so prevalent everywhere to beware of - sheeps clothings looks like sheeps clothing but underneath may be wolf seeking a meal.