The Attitude of Prudence

The Attitude of Prudence

Text: Proverbs 14:15 (AV)

15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

Ephesians 5:15–17 (AV)

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Introduction:

Definition of Prudence:

* What is an attitude of prudence?

* PRUDENCE — skill, good judgment, and common sense.

* Some synonyms for prudence are:

Caution, discreetness, discretion, foresight, forethought, precaution.

* The opposite of prudence would be ‎‎‎‎‎‎indiscretion, unreasonableness, or being unwise, foolish, stubborn.

* A Biblical example of not being prudent is found in:

Ephesians 5:17 (AV)

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

* In the Bible the words Wisdom and prudence have a very close relationship.

* Prudence is the “application” of Wisdom to practical, or every day events in our lives.

* It is possible for a person to accumulate Wisdom and Knowledge, but not have an attitude of “Prudence”

* Solomon, the wisest man that every lived, did not demonstrate prudence at all times in his own life. He allowed himself to get carried away the false worship with his foreign wifes.

* Prudence can be compared to the everyday term that we use called “common sense.”

* You see, according to the Bible God expects “ALL” believers to have the attitude of prudence!; not just the preacher, not just the preacher’s wife, not just the deacon, but every single believer!

* So you say “Well preacher, what does this “Prudence” look like? Well, I’m glad you asked The Bible gives us some excellent examples of what someone with the attitude of prudence should look like:

I. An example of prudence.

Proverbs 19:14 (AV)

14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.

Proverbs 31:10–31 (AV)

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

II. One of the chief characteristics of prudence is diligence!

* The Bible has much to say about the attitude of diligence.

* Let me share with you a passage from the Bible that has been my goal from the time I started serving the Lord as a 15 year old boy. This has been my guiding principle-

Ecclesiastes 9:10 (AV)

10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

* We are commanded in the book of Romans to live the Christian life with a “fervent spirit.”

Romans 12:10–11 (AV)

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

* Definition of a fervent spirit:

FERVENT, in the physical sense, means boiling, glowing, burning. It occurs in this literal physical sense in one passage of KJ, where it is twice said that “the elements shall melt with fervent heat” (2 Peter 3:10, 12).

* Most of the parables that Jesus taught, were parables about being “spiritually prudent”, or in other words, applying the Truth of God to our lives.

Matthew 13:44–46 (AV)

44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Matthew 7:24–27 (AV)

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Matthew 25:1–2 (AV)

1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

Matthew 18:23–24 (AV)

23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

Matthew 25:14–15 (AV)

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Luke 15:4 (AV)

4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

Luke 15:8–10 (AV)

8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Luke 15:11–12 (AV)

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

* Listen to what the Bible has to say about an attitude of diligence:

Proverbs 4:23 (AV)

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Proverbs 10:4–5 (AV)

4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

Proverbs 12:24 (AV)

24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

Proverbs 12:27 (AV)

27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

Proverbs 13:4 (AV)

4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

Proverbs 21:5 (AV)

5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

Proverbs 22:29 (AV)

29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

Proverbs 27:23–27 (AV)

23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. 24 For riches are not for ever.