Proverbs 14:15-16 – “15 A naive person believes everything, but the shrewd person discerns his steps. v16 A wise person is cautious and turns from evil, but a fool throws off restraint and is overconfident.”
Hello precious Child of God. Do you know that it is possible to be a Christian yet lack wisdom? Do you know that many of us, though Children of God have suffered a lot in life due to our folly and naivety? In this age of deception and false prophets, it is easy for us to naively fall prey to liars. The world applauds us when we accept all things as true, but God’s Wisdom warns against it
To be naive is basically to lack wisdom, lack of experience, and lack of a good sense of judgement about the basic issues of life. A naïve person is not able to discern between truth and lies. Sometimes, when the elders look at some of the hasty decisions and actions of the youth of today, they see a bunch of naive people who keep committing the same mistakes they committed when they were also young.
Naivety is understandable in a child, but when an adult remains that way, it becomes a wilful decision. Complacency may sound polite, but it is just an euphemism for laziness. These sins, like all sins, have consequences. If you don’t know better and do better, then you fail to be what you ought.
A naive person believes everything. Unfortunately, in the name of religion and Christianity, many of us have dismissed reasoning and now go after strange solutions that are contrary to common sense and the basic Knowledge of God. In this day and age, some ladies are still following religious leaders to be bathed by the seaside at midnight.
In this day and age where the word of God has abounded, some of us naively go after people who though are called men/women of God, who only exalt themselves and make money out of followers without making even a single altar call the whole year for souls to be saved. Our young ladies naively fall for the same old deceptive rhymes of men who have no vision for their lives.
DON’T BE NAÏVE: There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.
God is the ultimate parent. He is the only source of Wisdom and Truth, and just as you or I would be broken-hearted for a wayward, disobedient or foolish child, God’s heart breaks too when we blatantly reject His Wisdom. Out of a Heart of Grace and Mercy, He has provided all the Counsel and Direction and Truth we need to gain spiritual life and enjoy the abundant life here and now.
God seeks those of humble heart who trust His Wisdom more than their own, who recognize His Authority and Power as Creator, and who are willing to set aside their own ideas in submission to what is true.
“Wisdom shouts in the street, she lifts her voice in the square; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing and fools hate knowledge? Turn to my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.” (Proverbs 1:20-23)
Beloved, it pains the heart of our Father anytime He sees us naively falling prey to bad people. Satan has packaged sin so easy and simple, and the naive Child of God walks freely into his traps. If you are wise, you wouldn’t do what Jesus wouldn’t do, no matter how branded it is. Don’t be naive; discern your steps, be cautious and turn from evil. Don’t be overconfident in any act of foolishness. Do not be naïve.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I ask for wisdom, discernment and a strong heart to resist any form of deception and subtle temptation. Guide my thoughts and ways, that I may walk in wisdom. Bless us LORD, in Jesus’ name.
QUESTION FOR MEDITATION
What steps do I have to consciously take to ensure I do not become naive?
