The Prudent Response to Danger

Written by Ian Jannaway

Pastor Caleb posited the idea of the curfew which we all at one time or another had experience of. He said this leads to the five minute syndrome….

I can wait five more minutes… Just one more won’t hurt… How can I bend the rules without breaking them….

This leads to these thoughts:

If it’s not wrong it must be right,
If it’s not illegal its permissible,
If it’s not immoral it’s acceptable,
If it’s not over the line it’s fine.

We then ask ourselves two questions:
1/ is there anything wrong with this?

When we then find ourselves in a mess we ask:
2/how did I get myself into this?

Two scriptures to consider in light of this thinking:

Proverbs 27:12
The prudent see danger and take refuge,
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

Ephesians 5:15-16
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

So the question to ask in response to this knowledge in order to make better decisions and have fewer regrets becomes;

“In light of my past experiences, current circumstances and future hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing to do?”

Will you try this question out this week?