https://odb.org/2025/06/10/planning-prudently
Proverbs 14:7–8, 14-15 (NIV): 7 Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips. 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception. 14 The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good rewarded for theirs. 15 The simple believe anything but the prudent give thought to their steps.
The word translated “prudent” in Proverbs 14 may also be translated as “crafty”, “sensible”, or “shrewd”. In the Malaysian English context, we could use the word “clever” to describe the same. Someone who is prudent is someone who is crafty, sensible, shrewd, and clever. It conveys not a message of conservatism but rather someone who is well prepared and has taken into account various factors. That is why Proverbs 14:8 & 15 states that the prudent give thought to their steps. Meaning to say, the shrewd give thought to their plans. If you are sensible or clever, you will plan your ways.
In life, we can not avoid planning for things. We shouldn’t do things impromptu if possible as any decision taken in haste will eventually have its drawbacks. So if someone pressures you to invest into something after attending a talk, chances are you will regret your decision later. In fraud or scams, the perpetrators will pressure you to part with money very quickly, like after a few weeks or days when in a normal relationship, most people take months or years to trust someone else with their money. A tell tale of a romance scam is they imply or confess they love you just after knowing you for a few days when in real life people take months or years to do so!
On the other hand, when there is too much planning, but no action, we go nowhere. Preparation paralysis is what we in the corporate world call this. Always planning but dare not decide is the hallmark of the planning department! That speaks of extreme conservatism. It spells of missed opportunities and just status quo all the way. Very little things in life have no risks. Moreover, the lesser the risks, the lower the returns. We need to bite the bullet and take the step of faith.
In our walk with God, when the LORD leads us out of our comfort zone, there will usually be uncertainties and risks. Peter needed to step out of the boat to walk on the water at the call of Jesus. If we always want to remain in the safety of the boat, we will less likely experience God working supernaturally in our lives. We need to be bold and courageous, like Joshua and Caleb, to experience God. We need to exercise faith to trust God. That is what a prudent, shrewd, sensible, and clever person would do. Be bold to take the risks and trust God.
The prudent will plan his steps, but the prudent also exercises faith. Without faith, Abraham would not have left the Ur of the Caldeans for the Promised Land. Without faith, Abraham would not have brought Isaac up to the mountain to be sacrificed. Without faith, Moses would not have dared confront the Pharoah and brought out the nearly 2 million Jews out of Egypt. Without faith, Christ would not have sacrificed His life on the cross for our sake.
Ronnie's Thoughts 