What Is Prudence, and Do You Want It?
Whatever happened to prudence?
As I mentioned last week, I’ve been wondering about wisdom, so I turned to Proverbs. In my reading, this word prudence keeps popping up. Wisdom and prudence walk hand in hand:
“I wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And I find knowledge and discretion.” Proverbs 8:12
Does anyone want to be prudent in the 21stcentury? What does prudence mean, anyway?
A little dictionary exploration led to this discovery:
Prudence = “caution or circumspection as to danger or risk” (Merriam-Webster.com)
Prudence defies current bestseller wisdom.
In that case, prudence is definitely not the in-thing in the 21stcentury: we’re supposed to be dangerous, bold, and risky! At least that’s what the titles in the self-help section urge us to do: Dare Boldly! Own the Day, Own Your Life!Or, if we’re not being dangerous and bold, we should do things that involve what my grandmother always called four-lettter words: “How to not give a…” or “Make [stuff] happen”…In other words: Be reckless…be care-less!
Such is the bookstore wisdom of the 21stcentury. Here’s a thought, maybe even a modern-day proverb:
It's not a good idea to be bold and risky unless you're also wise and prudent. Click To TweetA Prudent Woman
What does the ancient wisdom of Proverbs teach us about prudence? I looked at a few of the Proverbs as well as some other biblical wisdom and came up with this sketch of a prudent woman:
- She’s knowledgeable but restrained.
Prudent people don’t flaunt their knowledge;
talkative fools broadcast their silliness. Proverbs 12:23, The MSG
Even if she’s been married for 35 years, she resists giving marriage counsel to her newly engaged daughter, unless she specifically asks for it, and even then, she proceeds cautiously.
2. She doesn’t have a quick temper.
Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly;
the prudent quietly shrug off insults. Proverbs 12:16, The MSG
If her co-worker jabs her with a snarky remark, she either responds graciously, inviting the insulter to be kind, or she remains silent. Wisdom tells her when to speak and when to remain silent.
3. She’s appropriately cautious.
A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.
The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. Proverbs 22:3, NLT
The prudent woman may choose to be a firefighter, but she will never try to fight a fire without the covering of both protective gear and protective prayer.
4. She receives correction humbly and openly.
A fool despises his father’s instruction,
But whoever heeds reproof is prudent. Proverbs 15:5, ESV
When her husband tells her she’s not pressing the right button on the remote, she doesn’t flip out on him – she thanks him and asks him to show her which one to press. Or, more importantly, when her husband tells her he was hurt by her sarcastic remark about his driving, she apologizes and asks God for help guarding her tongue.
5. She recognizes the hope of the gospel.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18, NIV
A prudent woman is neither proud nor self-righteous. Her signature humility and grace derive from her understanding that she is a sinner richly forgiven by God and made wonderfully new by his work.
Prayer: Lord, help us to grow in prudence, to be patient and kind, wise and humble, bold but aware of danger, open to correction and ready to repent. Grow us up in the wisdom of the Cross. In Jesus’ wise name we pray, Amen.