Walking with the Wise #152: Think Before Doing

“In everything the prudent acts with knowledge,

but a fool flaunts his folly.”
—Proverbs 13:16

“Prudence” is not a word that is used much anymore. According to the dictionary, it means “acting with or showing care and thought for the future.” The Hebrew word for prudence, arum, means crafty or shrewd, usually in dealing with the future—which basically means thinking before acting, because they know that their choice in the present will affect them in some way in the future.

The Bible gives a glowing report for those who are prudent, who think before doing something. One who is prudent is contrasted with the fool. The fool is one who doesn’t think before acting and continually finds himself in a world of hurt. He just impulsively does, day after day, without any thought to how it may affect him in the future.

As Christians, we are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul mind and strength. God wants our minds—i.e., our thoughts—and He wants us to think. As Christians, we are to be thinkers, which is why Paul wrote,

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”—Romans 12:2.

We act with prudence when we give thought to our ways and the actions before us, wondering how it will affect us practically, personally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. We need to train ourselves to ask ourselves several questions: How many people will be affected by this choice? Will it damage my testimony? How will this influence my future? If so, then we might reconsider our choice and act differently. God does want us to think before acting, because He knows that what we do will affect what others believe. The prudent act with knowledge, the fool continues on flaunting their stupid decisions.

O Lord, help us to think and act wisely. Help us to think before acting. Let our minds continually be directed back to you and may we act in wisdom so that we might make the best and most God-honoring decisions possible—for Your glory and our joy. Amen.