A sleepy driver is a threat to himself and to others. His dulled senses and his weakened reflexes can prevent him from discerning danger on the road and can keep him from noticing traffic warning signs along the way. A drowsy Christian is not much different. He is a menace to himself and others. His lack of spiritual sobriety undermines his discernment and prevents him from noticing danger signals along the way. We must be prudent and alert, growing in Biblical discernment, and applying the reproof and counsel of others to our own situations in life.
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. -Proverbs 22:3 & 27:12
A prudent Christian considers warnings and applies them wisely to his own life. A warning is a statement or an event that signals possible or impending danger. It can take the form of a traffic sign, a blinking light, or a sticker. Spiritually, it can come to us through a friend, a spouse, a preacher, or even a stranger. Biblical warnings may be shared individually (one-on-one) or with multiple people at the same time through any number of the available means of communication. Sometimes warnings may come directly to us from another person. At other times it may be indirectly, such as when an accident stops us in our tracks or when someone else’s choices and the ensuing consequences remind us that our own way of life is not pleasing to God.
Often, warnings are unpleasant. They come at inconvenient times. They come swinging at us from people we may not know well or even appreciate very much. But bitter as they may feel, they have the potential to save us from even more unpleasant situations. They help us see danger from a distance before we ourselves end up feeling the searing heat of a hot engine, the hardness of a slippery floor, the whack of a cow’s tail, or even much worse.
Much can be said about “learning things the hard way” or “going through the school of hard knocks.” But even though spiritual awareness and discernment that comes from personal experience will keep us from many unpleasant things in life, warnings can help us become aware of a hazard before we ever need to experience it. The Bible says that he who regards reproof is prudent (Proverbs 15:5). However, a person who utterly dislikes and constantly resists reproof is in danger of forsaking the way, as Proverbs 15:10 says. Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way -Proverbs 15:10.
There are some among us whom, through past experience or spiritual insight, the Lord uses to expose and define the work of the enemy on our current paths of life. We must open our dull ears and listen to what they have to say. The Bible teaches in many places that refusing to listen to reproof is not wise. Proverbs constantly speaks of this. It says that those who hate and refuse reproof are erring (10:17), are brutish (12:1), despise their own soul (15:32), and shall die (15:10). In another place it says, The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise -Proverbs 12:15.
Warnings are only as effective to us, as we are in interpreting and applying them to our own situations. Speeding through red lights and hitting the brakes at green lights doesn’t mean the traffic lights are useless, but rather that we are reading them wrongly, or perhaps we are not paying attention. Running a stop sign has more to do with our own lack of understanding or willingness to make use of an important signal, than it does with the effectiveness of a red piece of tin. This points to our fundamental need for spiritual awareness, understanding, discernment, and concern, all without which we helplessly drift away, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; -Ephesians 4:14. There are others who would be more than willing to sit in our driver’s seat if we aren’t.
You will find in life that warnings are very helpful and necessary, but if you want to be prudent, you must invest time into developing your own awareness of right and wrong through your personal study of God’s Word. You need to keep a watchful eye and be concerned about the truth. Many Christians seem to think that they can reach maturity and stay in the truth simply by coasting down the river of life on a boat called ‘Heaven-Bound’. But during a time when even Christ questioned whether there would be faith on the earth, we must feed on the strong meat of God’s Word. And for this we must have our senses exercised in order to discern both good and evil -Hebrews 5:14.
A prudent Christian is a discerning person; one with keen insight and judgment, who is concerned about the state of his soul and of others. He is also one who is developing a growing understanding regarding the dangers of life. This doesn’t mean he has no more need for advice, admonishment, or warning, since someone else may have already traveled the unknown path he may be about to follow and knows where the dangers lie. A prudent Christian has learned to manage the information he receives. When he is warned about a danger, he does not ignore the warning, but considers it and applies it in the most edifying way. When he is prompted by the Spirit to take a closer look at a matter, he takes his Bible knowledge and compares everything with Scripture. Then if he is wise, he will internalize what he has learned, adjusting his life according to Truth and sharing his conclusions with others who may benefit from it as well.
A prudent Christian will consider reproof and counsel. He will do what it takes to be more discerning between that which is right and wrong, correct and incorrect, truth and deception. Jesus said, Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves -Matthew 10:16.
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