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

2. 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

3. 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

4. <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

5. 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.

6. MUC
Page 101

7. “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: [accessed 14 Feb 2017]

8. 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?