“A person is praised according to their prudence, and one with a warped mind is despised.”
The word for prudence in the original language is sekel. It literally means “having good judgment, understanding, and the mental clarity to grasp how actions affect real life.” We know it is how we decide the best course of action by looking ahead to the consequences of what we do. We’ve seen before that Solomon calls for the best of mankind, building on God’s image, to run our lives by incorporating His wisdom into our decision-making. Today, we are to do the same, but we get to add the insight and power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The word “warped” includes the understanding that the person has been away from God. This can certainly be seen in a follower of God who abandons His wisdom and chooses to live by their own perception of what is wise. That is a very dangerous place to be. After Peter denied Jesus during His illegal trial, the Gospel writer tells us that he followed what was happening at a distance. The term “following” included the idea of “at a safe distance.” Then Peter denied Jesus three times. There is never a safe distance to follow Jesus other than right beside Him. Today, be prudent and stay close to your Heavenly Father. #BeTheEdge
“Come near to God and he will come near to you.” James 4:8a NIV
