Mensa Otabil - The Life of the Prudent (10/29/2025)
We’re learning wisdom from the Book of Proverbs, and we are in chapter 14, verse 15. The simple believes every word, but the prudent considers well his steps. This proverb makes a comparison between the simple and the prudent.
Who is the simple? The word «simple» in this verse means childish, inexperienced, or naive-somebody who is not mature enough. In other contexts, it also refers to someone who is lazy, someone who doesn’t make the effort to get things done. It says that the simple, or the childish inexperienced person, is easily persuaded by what he hears; they believe every word. If you tell them something is red, they believe it; if you tell them the same thing is green, they believe it. Whatever they hear, they believe. Especially in this day of social media, many of us believe everything.
We believe everything that pops up on our screens; we believe everything on Facebook, everything that is posted. We speak them as truth. Everything that is on the news, we consider to be true. If that’s how we look at life, then the Bible calls us simple people. The simple also believes that his way is right, and that’s the wrong thing about the simple. They’re childish; they believe everything, and once something sticks in their heads, they believe it’s right. They don’t review it; they don’t listen to anything else because they are persuaded simply by what they have been told. They don’t have the power of self-analysis. The simple believes every word.
Then the Bible talks about the second kind of person; it calls that person the prudent. The word " prudent» means sensible or the person who applies common sense to life, who applies good judgment. The prudent is very different from the simple. The prudent is somebody who thinks through what they are hearing. They are commonsensical; they judge properly; they make the right calls.
What does the prudent do? The passage says that they examine the path they are following; they consider well their steps. The simple will just believe everything and say, «It’s going to be all right,» but the prudent is going to look at something and say, «Wait a minute, let’s think it through. Let’s apply some other principles to it. Let’s examine it; let’s look at the other side.» That’s how the prudent makes a choice. Then they consider the consequences of their actions; they’re thinking about the effect. «If I do this, what will come of it?» Not only effects in this world; they’re also thinking about eternal consequences.
As human beings, we must not only think about earthly consequences; we must also think about eternal consequences. Where do we go when we leave this earth? What will God do with us? Where will our soul be? All of these are very important questions we have to ask. But a simple person doesn’t consider that. They live life very happily; they go on with their lives. They don’t consider where they’re going; they believe everything that they hear. They believe every story that they are told. The prudent spends time examining what they do.
We all have to ask ourselves, are we the simple or the prudent? Are we one of those people who parrot everything that is posted on WhatsApp, or are we one of those people who would at least cross-check it? Google it; try to find out other explanations for the same thing. Many times, you realize that the information people give you was just wrong. Don’t be simple-minded; be prudent. Think about consequences more than everything else. Think about the eternal consequences of your actions.
Let us pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, help me not to fall for lies and deception. Guide me to wisely choose my actions. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.» Let’s be wise. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. I’ll catch you again tomorrow. Shalom, peace, and life to you.