“The simple believes every word, but the prudent considers well his steps. 16 A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident. 17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a man of wicked intentions is hated. 18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 19 The evil will bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous” (Proverbs 14:15-19).
A flow chart is designed to trace a path of various binary choices to their ultimate outcomes. These proverbs, coupled with others, provide a clear spiritual flow chart for every human being.
At the top of the chart is the word: Simple. Everyone is born innocent, naïve, and ignorant. Those who choose to stay in this spiritual state are headed for disaster (v. 18), because “the simple believes every word” (v. 15). They make no distinction between truth and falsehood; they swallow everything indiscriminately. This unwise and unsafe spiritual diet will ultimately result in death from the ingestion of too much poison (i.e. lies).
To leave the category of simple, you have two choices: Scoffer or Prudent. The scoffer chooses to doubt God (who cannot lie) and thus reject truth, while embracing falsehood. He will seek wisdom in all the wrong places and from all the wrong sources. Therefore, he will seek wisdom and never find it (v. 6). To choose to be a scoffer is to choose death.
On the other hand, the Prudent seeks truth from the correct source—God. He will be crowned with genuine and accurate knowledge (v. 18). He will be discerning, considering carefully the choices he makes/the path he takes (v. 15).
Below the choices of Scoffer and Simple, as an outcome of their decision are the words: Fool (v. 16) and Evil (v. 19). Spiritual disaster is the inevitable outcome of either decision.
Below the choice of Prudent, as an outcome of this decision, are the words: Wise (v. 16) and Righteous/Upright (vv. 9, 11). Spiritual blessing and victory are the ultimate outcome of those who choose to be prudent and reject the options of simple or scoffer.
Everyone is in this flow chart somewhere.
Where are you?
Where are you headed?
