The Prudent vs the fool by Dr. Craig Scott

Q. Ever been around an impetuous person?

I.e. Always flying off the handle…..making quick and rash decisions…passing judgment on events and people without really giving time to study out both sides.

Motto—when in doubt, speak….

Ready…shoot ….aim

Spend it now before we change our mind

Don’t confuse me with the facts. I have made up my mind.

As a result there are lots of offended people, bitter children, foolish business deals, shoddy ministries.

Prayer: “Lord, help me to be a prudent person.”

Prov 13:16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

Prudent: Capable of exercising sound judgment in practical matters. Cautious or discreet in conduct. Circumspect. Not rash. Carefully managing in areas of economy. Not quick to pass judgment. Hebr: cunning, crafty, and subtle.

Ie. Cat waiting and crouching for eternity as it studies an unsuspecting rodent.

Notice 2 things about the Prudent man:

1. Knowledge. …dealeth with knowledge. To know, be aware, to collect all the facts on the matter… have all your ducks in a row. See the whole picture… both sides… all angles.

I.e. Economical—very careful in the use of material resources. A prudent man can live on a much smaller salary than a foolish man…skeptical of get rich quick schemes. Buy it now or you may never get a chance to buy it….searches out all the angles…all the sales’ prices. Makes comparisons….

Prov 22:3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Prov 12:23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

Concealeth: to fill up the hollow; to cover; keep secret; to clothe, to hide.

Knowledge: acquainted with the facts; to be familiar with… to be learned; to have an understanding of…to be aware.

Knowledge: acquainted with the facts; to be familiar with; to be learned; to have an understanding of; to be aware of.

Idea: A prudent man is a careful manager of what he knows…he’s not quick to tip his hand…display what he knows..

Because of this he’s not quick to get into something risky or dangerous. He’s not quick to jeopardize people and situations.

A prudent man’s response to reproof: Prov 15:5 A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

2. Application: Dealeth with knowledge.

Dealeth: to do, to make, to advance, to appoint. To put it to use in daily living.

He is not a pacifist when it comes to doing the right thing. Many will view him as being a pacifist at the start He will give the appearance of one that is dragging his feet…lazy. Without initiative.

However, once he has the facts put together and done all the research into the matter…gotten both sides on the issue and looked at the whole picture…come to a well-thought out decision on the matter…look out! He will deal with the mater…and it will be right!

What is anger? A substitute for judgment. Anger is usually the banner or a simple person. A simple person is a shallow individual that has never learned to study pout a matter….get both sides …wait. So, he is quick to buy into someone’s vendetta or rage. He is quick to take ownership of someone’s hurt feelings and opinion.

Ever had someone pull you aside to express their extreme dismay over a situation where their close friend was slighted…passed over…shunned…offended…fired. Kicked out, taken advantage of, made to sit on the bench, pushed out, used, had their feelings hurt, embarrassed, not given a raise in pay when everyone else was…

Ever had a well-meaning Christian call you or pull you aside to malign anther Christian or organization? Point out the hypocrisy of another person….

Remember: Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge!

Also remember what God says about acting impetuously.

1. You are a fool. But a fool layeth open his folly.

Fool: someone who has never learned to see things from God’s point of view. …A fool lives life from his own point of view. 12:15…right in his own eyes.

2. You put your own stupidity on Display. Layeth open….folly.

Layeth open: to spread out; to put on display.

Folly: Ignorance, silliness, foolishness…

Toy: Prudent man—a man of intellectual sobriety and acuteness…he acts ‘with due regard to circumstances, while the fool spreads out or displays his ignorance and folly like a peddler who openly spreads his wares before the gaze of all men.

How to Display Folly:

1. Hasty Words. Quick to talk about things of which he knows little or nothing. He has to express himself about everything. A know-it-all.

Something I have noticed about human nature. The dumber a man is, the more he likes to talk.

Thomas: The more ignorant a man is, the more garrulous (chatter…talkative). Empty-minded persons are generally talkative. The law seems to be the less thought the more talk. The less one knows of a subject, the more copiously he can speak about it. The thinker, discerning difficulties in every turn, moves cautiously, reverently, and even with hesitation.

2. Impetuous Actions. A foolish person doesn’t know his strengths and weaknesses. ‘Hence he is seen everywhere, striving to be what he never can’ to do that which he never can accomplish. He attempts to build a tower without counting the cost. Thus, he layeth open his folly.

Bridges: He layeth open his folly by:

 Pouring out his wrath (12:16)

 Vaunting out his vanity (1 Sam 17:44)

 Exposing his thoughtlessness (Matt 14:7)

 Exercising no judgment (18:13) and filling his sphere of influence with mischief.