Hide and Don't Seek!
"A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished." - Proverbs 22:3 (KJV, emphasis mine)
Do you remember playing the game “Hide and Seek” as a child? Believe it or not, there was a time when children could and would go outside and play with other children. The game “Hide and Seek” was beneficial on a number of fronts: mathematically - you counted by one or by multiples of five; physically - you moved your body to run; mentally - where you had to think and use strategy to hide and and socially - you interacted with others!
In today's culture children hide in their rooms with their electronics and their parents are always seeking them. In addition, children are no longer safe to play in many places and settings that we call home today. Today’s society dictates that we position ourselves in wisdom and practice prudence in a world that protests God’s proper place of Lordship in our lives.
You see, family of Christ, being foolish can be fatal and it can invite irreparable injury to ourselves and those we love. This is due to the fact that we live in a fallen world that lies in wickedness.
“And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1 John 5:19 (KJV)
From our passage let's consider a couple of words for contemplation:
Foreseeth - to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider
Hideth - to hide oneself carefully
A prudent man practices wisdom and thereby positions himself to see and discern what is evil or what will be disastrous before it comes and hides himself from it. He will also be aware when he is entering into temptation and will respond by putting on the armor of God and being on guard. When funnel clouds of various circumstances are gathering for a storm, he will heed and seek shelter.
In looking at scripture, we can see an example of a prudent man in Joseph. God used a dream of an Egyptian Pharaoh to warn the arrival of a crushing and severe famine. Joseph, a God-fearing and prudent man, took the essential steps to save his people and the nations. If Joseph were foolish, he, his people and the nations would have perished.
In summary, there is one who is aware of danger and wisely avoids it. The other may see danger but puts forth no effort to avoid it, so he suffers for it. However, I consider “The Biggest Loser” in life is the one who walks away from the weight of truth that declares that all must repent and be saved or face the eternal wrath of God and lose their soul! Being a fool is fatalistic forever!
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR