Proverbs 1:4. to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth.
Everyone is born simple. In the book of Proverbs, the simple person is the one who simply doesn’t know things or understand things. They have no life skill.
Being simple isn’t bad if you are young. When you’re young you aren’t expected to have wisdom and insight yet. That’s why Solomon collected these provers for the young men of his kingdom, so that the youth could learn to be prudent instead of simple.
What is prudence? To be prudent means you have a plan.
If you’ve ever gone on a business trip or even a family vacation, likely you had a plan. You packed a bag. Had an agenda. Knew when the flight left. Had access to money. You were prudent. Chances are you prudently planned your college education or your career path. You prudently saved for retirement.
Of course there’s nothing wrong with being a free spirit and not planning out every detail of your life. And we must also balance prudent planning with a faith in God that allows us to trust him when things don’t work out the way we planned. But make no mistake, prudence is part of wisdom. It is part of navigating the complexities of life.
Jesus not only had a plan, he WAS God’s plan. God prudently planned to send his only Son to save us when we rebelled. Jesus prudently followed that plan to the very end – death on a cross for all mankind. Why? So that we might become as he is in the world. So that we might be transformed into his likeness. That’s the plan! Christ-likeness. Image bearing. Love sharing. God trusting. Grace giving.
Not college plans. Not career plans. Not control your life plans. Christ!
What is your plan for becoming like Christ? Or is your only plan to not have a plan? To stay spiritually simple your whole life? Milk drinking instead of meat eating?
Spiritual growth requires prudence. It requires working out the salvation that Christ has worked in. Praise God union with Christ means the Christ IN you is working in and working out.
In Christ: Why must any plan for spiritual growth begin with knowing that you are securely in Christ?
Christ in you: What is the biggest obstacle to the Christ in you being let out of you through your love for God and others? What step can you take to remove that obstacle?
Pray: Father, you had a plan to save us and you did it! Help me to be prudent and have a plan for living in a way that loves you and loves others. Amen.
To Live is Christ 