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The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it - Proverbs 22:3
Is this not just common sense? If the weather forecast says rain, do you not just carry an umbrella? The motorist, the student, the housewife, the shopkeeper, the farmer and just about everyone else could give dozens of examples from everyday life where we anticipate a difficulty or danger and take steps to avoid it. We do it every day.
Our children? Can you not remember a time when you did something you ought not to have done and then disappeared to avoid the consequences?
Why then does Solomon state the inevitable? He tells us in the second part of the verse. It is a truth that not everyone is prudent, not everyone anticipates the dangers ahead. Or, if they do, they don’t do anything about it. Why not? Maybe they think ‘it will never happen!’
Maybe they have the attitude ‘It can’t be that bad!’ or ‘Something will turn up’ Or maybe they can’t see how they can avoid the danger. All of these scenarios Solomon attributes to ‘the simple.’ Now none of us would like to be classed in that category. We all like to think we are ‘the prudent.’ Yet, in the most important issue we will ever face in this life, this ‘common sense,’ this self evident advice that the Holy Spirit, speaking through Solomon, clearly states, is ignored.
On that day when the Lord returns, in which category will you be?
Charles Wesley writes:
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
Till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide;
O receive my soul at last.
By Wor. Bro. Rev. Ian McClean, Grand Chaplain