A Man’s Call To Prudence In Decision Making Pete Lackey

Definition: VIRTUE: PRUDENCE VICE: CARELESSNESS 1. Definition: Latin prudentia, contracted from providentia, meaning “seeing ahead”. The ability to apply God’s universals to life’s particulars. Shows sharp powers of judgment; Wise in decision-making. Properties of Prudence: Understanding, Intelligence, Foresight, Reasoning, Discernment, Shrewdness, Memory, Caution Vice: Carelessness [sloppy, unthoughtful, short-term, unreflective] MUC Page 71

Proverbs 1:1-7 1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. MUC Page 75

<not always of course, but a bent or internal inclination> What Is Your Tendency? Reflect: When faced with decisions I tend toward: <not always of course, but a bent or internal inclination> ____ Too much analysis before a decision ____ Too little analysis before making a decision MUC Page 76

The Window of Wisdom A prudent man takes knowledge, processes it, makes a decision, and chooses to act on that decision! We need to be doers, but we must think before we act.

MUC Page 101

“it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, Proverbs 19:2-3 “it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, And he who hurries his footsteps errs. The foolishness of man ruins his way, and his heart rages against the Lord” Wisdom/Godly counsel Self Awareness: Know your tendency! Execute wisely Memory, Caution Discernment/Godly counsel Understanding, Reasoning Knowledge Umass Dartmouth: http://www.umassd.edu/fycm/decisionmaking/process [accessed 14 Feb 2017]

Table Talk Do you have any important decisions you need to make now or near future? For example: New job/career change/life transition Relationships (dating/marriage/kids/parents) Moving Financial How has your tendency to under analyze or over analyze impacted your decision making? How are you going to apply what you just learned to be prudent & avoid carelessness?