Embracing Prudence: Navigating Change with Wisdom

 

Summary

Change begins today, and we are called to embrace it with a spirit of prudence. Drawing from Judges 5:20, we see that even the stars fought in their courses against Sisera, symbolizing God's active role in the unfolding of events. In the ancient world, virtues such as courage, prudence, temperance, and justice were considered foundational to a good life. The church later added faith, hope, and love, forming a complete set of virtues that guide us toward a flourishing life.

Prudence, often misunderstood in modern times as mere caution or hesitance, is actually a profound virtue. It involves shrewdness, good judgment, and the ability to see the whole picture and make decisions based on reality. This virtue is essential in every aspect of life, from parenting to business, and its absence can lead to dire consequences, as seen in the aftermath of Lincoln's assassination and the failure to win hearts against racism.

Prudence requires us to look at reality with courage and honesty, to set goals, and to navigate life based on an accurate understanding of our circumstances. It is closely linked to providence, as it involves discerning God's work in our lives and aligning our actions with His kingdom. The most prudent advice is found in Matthew 6:33: "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness."

Abraham Lincoln exemplified prudence by waiting for the developments of providence and making decisions based on a deep understanding of reality. His knowledge of the Bible and his commitment to seeking God's guidance in his leadership were key to his success. Today, we are called to exercise prudence by discerning God's work in our lives and taking steps that align with His will.

Prudence is not about passivity but about actively engaging with reality and making wise decisions. It is about giving honest feedback, offering help without expecting anything in return, and facing difficult situations with courage. By seeking God's kingdom and aligning our actions with His will, we can navigate life's challenges with wisdom and grace.

Key Takeaways:

- Prudence is a foundational virtue that involves shrewdness, good judgment, and the ability to see the whole picture. It is essential in every aspect of life, from parenting to business, and its absence can lead to dire consequences. [03:36]

- Prudence requires us to look at reality with courage and honesty, to set goals, and to navigate life based on an accurate understanding of our circumstances. It is closely linked to providence, as it involves discerning God's work in our lives. [06:24]

- The most prudent advice is found in Matthew 6:33: "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." By aligning our actions with God's will, we can navigate life's challenges with wisdom and grace. [07:15]

- Abraham Lincoln exemplified prudence by waiting for the developments of providence and making decisions based on a deep understanding of reality. His commitment to seeking God's guidance in his leadership was key to his success. [08:37]

- Prudence is not about passivity but about actively engaging with reality and making wise decisions. It involves giving honest feedback, offering help without expecting anything in return, and facing difficult situations with courage. [12:11]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:43] - Verse of the Day
- [00:58] - Cardinal and Theological Virtues
- [01:43] - Identifying Character Strengths
- [02:25] - Misconceptions About Prudence
- [03:36] - Classical Understanding of Prudence
- [04:10] - Importance of Prudence in Decision Making
- [05:03] - Lincoln's Example of Prudence
- [06:24] - Prudence and Reality
- [07:15] - Seeking God's Kingdom
- [08:37] - Lincoln's Vow and Providence
- [09:06] - Biblical Context of Judges 5:20
- [10:40] - God at Work in Reality
- [11:12] - Navigating Life with Prudence
- [12:46] - Practical Steps in Exercising Prudence

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Judges 5:20 - "From the heavens the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera."
2. Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

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Observation Questions:

1. How does Judges 5:20 illustrate God's involvement in the events of the world? [09:06]
2. What are the cardinal virtues mentioned in the sermon, and how do they relate to the theological virtues? [00:58]
3. How is prudence described differently in the sermon compared to its common modern-day perception? [02:39]
4. What role did prudence play in Abraham Lincoln's leadership according to the sermon? [08:37]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of prudence as described in the sermon challenge the common misconception of it being mere caution or hesitance? [03:22]
2. In what ways does seeking God's kingdom first, as advised in Matthew 6:33, embody the virtue of prudence? [07:15]
3. How does the sermon suggest that prudence is linked to understanding and aligning with God's providence? [07:04]
4. What lessons can be drawn from Lincoln's example of waiting for the developments of providence before making significant decisions? [08:37]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent decision you made. How could the virtue of prudence have influenced the outcome differently? [04:10]
2. Identify an area in your life where you need to seek God's kingdom first. What practical steps can you take to align your actions with this priority? [07:15]
3. Think of a situation where you need to give honest feedback or help someone without expecting anything in return. How can you approach this with prudence? [12:11]
4. Are there areas in your life where you tend to act based on emotions rather than reality? How can you cultivate a more prudent approach? [06:37]
5. Consider a challenge you are currently facing. How can you discern God's work in this situation and take a prudent step forward? [11:27]
6. Reflect on a time when you avoided a difficult conversation. How might embracing prudence help you address such situations in the future? [11:46]
7. How can you incorporate the practice of seeking God's guidance in your daily decision-making process, similar to how Lincoln did? [08:37]

Devotional

Day 1: Prudence as a Visionary Virtue
Prudence is not merely about caution; it is a visionary virtue that involves shrewdness, good judgment, and the ability to see the whole picture. It is essential in every aspect of life, from parenting to business, and its absence can lead to dire consequences. Prudence requires us to look at reality with courage and honesty, to set goals, and to navigate life based on an accurate understanding of our circumstances. It is closely linked to providence, as it involves discerning God's work in our lives. [03:36]

"Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them." (Hosea 14:9, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to apply prudence by seeing the bigger picture and making a decision based on reality today?


Day 2: Courageous Honesty in Prudence
Prudence requires us to look at reality with courage and honesty, to set goals, and to navigate life based on an accurate understanding of our circumstances. It is closely linked to providence, as it involves discerning God's work in our lives. By aligning our actions with God's will, we can navigate life's challenges with wisdom and grace. The most prudent advice is found in Matthew 6:33: "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." [06:24]

"Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure." (Proverbs 4:25-26, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to face reality with courage and honesty today? How can you seek God's guidance in this area?


Day 3: Aligning with God's Kingdom
The most prudent advice is found in Matthew 6:33: "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." By aligning our actions with God's will, we can navigate life's challenges with wisdom and grace. This alignment requires us to prioritize God's kingdom in our decisions and actions, ensuring that our lives reflect His righteousness and purpose. [07:15]

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one decision you need to make today that requires you to seek God's kingdom first? How can you ensure that your actions align with His righteousness?


Day 4: Learning from Lincoln's Prudence
Abraham Lincoln exemplified prudence by waiting for the developments of providence and making decisions based on a deep understanding of reality. His commitment to seeking God's guidance in his leadership was key to his success. Today, we are called to exercise prudence by discerning God's work in our lives and taking steps that align with His will. [08:37]

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." (Proverbs 16:9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate the practice of waiting for God's providence in your decision-making process today? What steps can you take to ensure your decisions are grounded in reality and aligned with God's will?


Day 5: Active Engagement with Reality
Prudence is not about passivity but about actively engaging with reality and making wise decisions. It involves giving honest feedback, offering help without expecting anything in return, and facing difficult situations with courage. By seeking God's kingdom and aligning our actions with His will, we can navigate life's challenges with wisdom and grace. [12:11]

"Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord." (Romans 12:11, ESV)

Reflection: What is one situation you are currently facing that requires you to actively engage with reality and make a wise decision? How can you offer help or feedback in this situation without expecting anything in return?

Quotes


Prudence carries with it today the connotation of prude, a person of over-exaggerated caution, Bland Temperance hesitation, a lack of imagination and will, a person who walks with tentative steps. There used to be a comedian on Saturday Night Live, Dana Carvey, and he became quite famous for doing an impersonation of then-president George W. Bush where what he would say over and over again, not gonna do it, not gonna do it, wouldn't be wise, wouldn't be prudent. [00:02:51]

Prudence is at its Essence a commitment to an orientation that's based on reality. It has involved particularly with the capacity to make good decisions and to things not just do I have good intentions with this but what are the results of this going to be what will the actual consequences going to be for real people so parents desperately need the gift of prudence if you're involved in the world of business if you have a job if you work with food if you do chores if you're in a household you need the gift of prudence. [00:03:57]

Prudence means I'm deeply committed to looking at reality to accepting reality doesn't mean I accept it doesn't mean I'm passive in my situation it means I will navigate where I want to go I will set goals I will try to have foresight going into the future that are deeply based on an accurate understanding of reality now where there's a lack of prudence almost almost always it's because I just give into my emotion and I live in the pretense that things are the way that I want them to be rather than in the truth of how they actually are. [00:06:17]

The most prudent advice that has yet been given to the human race is Matthew 6:33 seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and then all these other things will be added to you now that is simply Prudence in its most impactful form and interestingly enough Lincoln although he was not particularly Orthodox in his theology was a great Exemplar of this. [00:07:13]

When the Civil War had been going on for some time and there was great anguish and it wasn't clear how things were going to turn out Lincoln at one point made a vow to God and it had become clear to him that public sentiment about slavery had shifted enough at least in the North and the demands in the war made it quite clear that the offer of emancipation had to be made and so at one point he actually prayed and he said to God if you will grant us victory in the battle that would become known as Antietam I will take that as an indicator that it is now time to move forward with the Emancipation Proclamation. [00:07:40]

Provenance had always played a major role in the constitution of Lincoln's prudence. He told the journalist Noah Brooks that he thought it wise to wait for the developments of Providence, and the scriptural phrase that the stars in their courses fought against Cicero to him had a deep breath of meaning. [00:08:35]

Lincoln amazingly enough was a student enough of the Bible that he knew that verse, and the Stars fought against Cicero uh he was a great example of the ancient virgin virtue of prudence, a deep commitment to looking with unblinking courage and honesty and insight at reality and then not being passive but saying I will chart my course not only based on good intentions but also what will be the best most skillful most courageous way to navigate reality including other people and sell and that is a great gift to give. [00:10:43]

Prudence is no wonder the Ancients thought of it as an absolutely foundational character quality so today where can you exercise prudence, where can you deeply be committed to seeking to discern how God is at work in the reality of your life and then take one prudent step forward. [00:11:27]

Think of a friend of mine who has somebody in his life who really needs to hear honest feedback that's courageous even though they will resist it and The Prudent thing is to move forward to that conversation I think of a friend of mine who had the thought quite recently I need in some area of my life to give help to another person who cannot pay me back and The Prudent thing is to move forward with that. [00:11:46]

I myself had a conversation just a couple days ago with a very wise friend who basically said, John you have been living as though you're waiting for the next bad thing to happen and it's time to stop living that way and I recognize that's exactly what I needed to hear. [00:12:09]

God is at work in the circumstances of this world reality is a god-based entity the most prudent advice you will ever receive is seek first the kingdom seek it what's God new on what's he up to how can you be a part of it be prudent change is coming. [00:13:05]

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Transcript
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