{"id":65443,"date":"2024-01-05T21:28:22","date_gmt":"2024-01-06T03:28:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?page_id=65443"},"modified":"2024-01-06T21:25:40","modified_gmt":"2024-01-07T03:25:40","slug":"prudence","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/proverbs-practical-advice-on-life\/prudence\/","title":{"rendered":"Prudence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t<h1>Prudence<\/h1>\n<h3>Text: Proverbs 22:1-16<\/h3>\n<h2>Prudence in behavior<\/h2>\n<h4>(Proverbs 22:1-5)<\/h4>\n<p>To have a good reputation has more value than wealth (Ecclesiastes 7:1) and to have the favor of other people is also more valuable than silver and gold (Philippians 4:18-19).<\/p>\n<p>Both the rich and the poor are children of God (Job 31:15; 34:19; Malachi 2:10). They are in their situation by God&#8217;s decision (Proverbs 10:22; 14:31; 17:5). Neither group should treat the other with contempt, nor should they think they are different (James 1:9-11). No one is unneeded (I Corinthians 12:21).<\/p>\n<p>A prudent man doesn&#8217;t ignore the danger of evil but avoids it. Those lacking experience don&#8217;t realize the danger and continue forward to their own harm. An example is the reaction of the Egyptians to Moses&#8217; warning (Exodus 9:20-21). Or consider Noah, who was warned of the destruction of the world. He warned others but only his own family listened to him (Hebrews 11:7). Similar proverbs are Proverbs 14:16; 27:12.<\/p>\n<p>True riches, fame, and life are gained by humility and fear of God (Psalms 112:1-3; Matthew 6:33; I Timothy 4:8). It is only through humility and fear that a person sees the need to learn and is willing to learn. Similar proverbs are Proverbs 3:7-18; 15:33; 21:21.<\/p>\n<p>The perverse (crooked or deceitful) have a difficult way through life, so if you want safety for your soul, you will avoid the snares of perversity (I John 5:18). This adds to the collection of things that make life harder: wickedness (Proverbs 11:6; 16:17) and laziness (Proverbs 15:19).<\/p>\n<h3>For discussion:<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>What can we do to improve our reputation?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Preparing for the future<\/h2>\n<h4>(Proverbs 22:6-9)<\/h4>\n<p>Teach a child, when he is young, the proper way to live, and it will remain with him the rest of his life (Lamentations 3:27; Proverbs 19:18). Other proverbs on training children are Proverbs 13:24; 19:18; 20:11.<\/p>\n<p>Those with money end up with control over those who don&#8217;t have it. Therefore it isn&#8217;t wise to give up control of your life by borrowing. An example is found in Nehemiah 5:4-5. God actually wanted His people to be lenders and not borrowers (Deuteronomy 28:12).<\/p>\n<p>You only harvest what you sow. Sin produces sorrow and loss of abusive power (Galatians 6:7-8; Hosea 10:13). An example of the loss of abusive power is found in Isaiah 10:24-25. Interestingly, &#8220;iniquity&#8221; means acting without authority and the rod is a symbol of forced authority on others.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast to the previous verse, generosity produces blessings (II Corinthians 9:6-11; Proverbs 11:25; 19:17; Isaiah 32:8). The Hebrew literally says, &#8220;good eye;&#8221; in other words, this is a person who looks for opportunities to do good.<\/p>\n<h3>For discussion:<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Does Proverbs 22:6 mean a child will never stray if properly trained?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Prudence in words<\/h2>\n<h4>(Proverbs 22:10-14)<\/h4>\n<p>Getting rid of the source of the problem will solve the issue. A scoffer is the source of contentions, strife, and reproach (Romans 16:17-18; Titus 3:10-11). An example was the removal of Ishmael from Abraham&#8217;s home (Genesis 21:9-12).<\/p>\n<p>In contrast to the prior verse, a person who loves pure hearts and speaks graciously will find friends even in the highest levels of government. This is a person who is honest in his dealings and speaks well to others. It is a characteristic that should be desired in government. Similar to Proverbs 16:13. An example is Daniel (Daniel 6:20-23).<\/p>\n<p>God has always preserved His word (the truth) (Isaiah 59:21; Luke 21:33; Mark 13:31; Matthew 24:35), but the words of the faithless disappear. An example is what happened to Herod (Acts 12:23-24).<\/p>\n<p>The lazy will always find an excuse not to work. He imagines dangers that keep him from acting. An example would the be ten spies (Numbers 13:32-33).<\/p>\n<p>The words of an immoral woman are like a deep pit &#8211; easy to fall into but very hard to get out of. Interestingly, the wicked are more easily ensnared by such women (Proverbs 2:16,19; 5:3; 7:21).<\/p>\n<h2>Prudence from experience<\/h2>\n<h4>(Proverbs 22:15-16)<\/h4>\n<p>Children tend to be foolish, whether because of inexperience or rebellion, but discipline, such as spankings, drives away the foolishness (Hebrews 12:6-7). Similar to Proverbs 13:24; 19:18.<\/p>\n<p>Two sure ways to poverty are oppressing the poor to gain wealth (Micah 2:2-3; Zechariah 7:9-14; James 5:1-5) and giving money to those who don&#8217;t need it. Jesus tells us that we should do the opposite and give to those who cannot repay us (Luke 14:12-14).<\/p>\n<h3>For discussion:<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Is spanking the only way to discipline a child?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/proverbs-practical-advice-on-life\/consequences-of-conduct\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrior Lesson\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/proverbs-practical-advice-on-life\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProverbs\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/proverbs-practical-advice-on-life\/what-you-should-not-do\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNext Lesson\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Prudence Text: Proverbs 22:1-16 Prudence in behavior (Proverbs 22:1-5) To have a good reputation has more value than wealth (Ecclesiastes 7:1) and to have the favor of other people is also more valuable than silver and gold (Philippians 4:18-19). Both the rich and the poor are children of God (Job 31:15; 34:19; Malachi 2:10). They&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":16504,"menu_order":27,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-65443","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16504,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/proverbs-practical-advice-on-life\/","url_meta":{"origin":65443,"position":0},"title":"Proverbs: Practical Advice on Life","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 17, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Proverbs Practical Advice on Life by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Started November 17, 2014 Draft Finished October 26, 2018 Part 1 - Monologues Overview of Proverbs\u00a0(Proverbs 1:1) The Objectives of Proverbs\u00a0(Proverbs 1:2-7) Gangs\u00a0(Proverbs 1:8-19) Wisdom's Offer\u00a0(Proverbs 1:20-33) Wisdom Guards\u00a0(Proverbs 2:1-22) Wisdom's Benefits\u00a0(Proverbs 3:1-26) A Sample of Wisdom\u00a0(Proverbs 3:27-35) A Choice of\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"Photo by Alabaster Co on Unsplash","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/proverbs-300x243.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":38027,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/proverbs-practical-advice-on-life\/the-objectives-of-proverbs\/","url_meta":{"origin":65443,"position":1},"title":"The Objectives of Proverbs","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 17, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The Objectives of Proverbs Text: Proverbs 1:2-7 Not many books in the Bible clearly state their purpose, though each have a reason for being written. The book starts out with a list: To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, To receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness,\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":15623,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/moral-principles-for-young-people-volume-ii\/shipwrecked\/","url_meta":{"origin":65443,"position":2},"title":"Shipwrecked","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 16, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Shipwrecked by Steven Braman Let me tell you about my evening. I was eating dinner in Shanghai. I picked a little restaurant near the hotel called Johnny Moo. It is a knock off of Johnny Rockets. Basically a '50's style burger joint. I had a cheeseburger, fries and a banana\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/shipwreck.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":45652,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/proverbs-practical-advice-on-life\/wisdom-calls\/","url_meta":{"origin":65443,"position":3},"title":"Wisdom Calls","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 28, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Wisdom Calls Text: Proverbs 8:1-36 Wisdom can't be missed (Proverbs 8:1-3) We return to the same points introduced in Proverbs 1:20ff. In chapter 1, we saw a juxtaposition of gangs and Wisdom, so we might notice the difference in their operations. Here, too, is juxtaposition, but this one is between\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":65427,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/proverbs-practical-advice-on-life\/good-attitudes\/","url_meta":{"origin":65443,"position":4},"title":"Good Attitudes","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 5, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Good Attitudes Text: Proverbs 18:20-19:29 Speak Properly (Proverbs 18:20-21) The result of speaking well is a satisfying life. Similar proverbs are Proverbs 12:14; 13:2; 15:23. Words are more powerful than we may realize (James 3). 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