The naive believes everything, But the sensible man considers his steps.
Proverbs 14:15
There is a way that some proceed in life that is very foolish. The wise man considers his steps - and thinks about the actions he is about to take or the words he is going to speak. He considers them to make sure that he does not enter into an evil path or make an evil statement. Let's take a look at this wise man and hopefully learn a little wisdom ourselves.
The naive man who is the focus of our verse today is one who is foolish and simpleminded. He is someone who is very naive when it comes to the complexities and challenges that a person faces in life. He does not think about these things - considering the best path to take or the proper thing to say. This leaves him open to make serious mistakes and missteps in his life. The passage here says that this man "believes everything." This kind of trust is misplaced in a fallen world. I remember early in my adult life that I just took it as a given that I could trust everyone. It did not take long to be burned enough times to change from trusting everyone to being wise knowing that mankind is sinful and fallen. What had happened was that God was taking me from being naive - to being a sensible man who considered my steps.
To be a sensible man is to be one who is prudent. He considers what is before him and thinks ahead enough to see what is coming. He looks not just at the instant gratification or the instant reward - but the long term effects as well. This is what happens when we consider our steps. We are taking the time to seriously think about what WILL happen immediately, short-term, and long-term with our decisions. The naive will be suckered into numerous problems and traps that are laid by unscrupulous men. The wise man will look, think, pray, examine things from the point of Scripture - and eventually seek to make a wise decision that will bless in the long-term - even if things look a little more difficult in the short term.
Proverbs 14:15
There is a way that some proceed in life that is very foolish. The wise man considers his steps - and thinks about the actions he is about to take or the words he is going to speak. He considers them to make sure that he does not enter into an evil path or make an evil statement. Let's take a look at this wise man and hopefully learn a little wisdom ourselves.
The naive man who is the focus of our verse today is one who is foolish and simpleminded. He is someone who is very naive when it comes to the complexities and challenges that a person faces in life. He does not think about these things - considering the best path to take or the proper thing to say. This leaves him open to make serious mistakes and missteps in his life. The passage here says that this man "believes everything." This kind of trust is misplaced in a fallen world. I remember early in my adult life that I just took it as a given that I could trust everyone. It did not take long to be burned enough times to change from trusting everyone to being wise knowing that mankind is sinful and fallen. What had happened was that God was taking me from being naive - to being a sensible man who considered my steps.
To be a sensible man is to be one who is prudent. He considers what is before him and thinks ahead enough to see what is coming. He looks not just at the instant gratification or the instant reward - but the long term effects as well. This is what happens when we consider our steps. We are taking the time to seriously think about what WILL happen immediately, short-term, and long-term with our decisions. The naive will be suckered into numerous problems and traps that are laid by unscrupulous men. The wise man will look, think, pray, examine things from the point of Scripture - and eventually seek to make a wise decision that will bless in the long-term - even if things look a little more difficult in the short term.
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