Work It

“Every prudent [man] dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open [his] folly.” (Pr 13:16 AV)

The word ‘dealeth’ is interesting.  The word means to inter-meddle.  It means to work with knowledge as a potter would his clay.  The prudent man will work with knowledge because working with knowledge results in understanding.  Understanding should end in wisdom.  In other words, gathering facts and working with facts helps us to put pieces together in a bigger picture.  Once we understand how principles work, the discipline to incorporate that understanding should result.  That is to which the Bible refers as wisdom.  But it all starts with dealing with knowledge.  Dealing with knowledge takes work.  We must read.  We must research.  We must pray.  We must take the time necessary to gather the facts.  We have to deal with knowledge.

We had the privilege of home-schooling our children for a bit.  We had a few years of sitting in our ‘classroom’ and teaching them some of the very basics of their scholastic life.  It was an experience I will always remember and one for which I will always be grateful.  One blessing of teaching them was seeing the ‘get it’.  Whether it was phonics, math, or history, when they could put the puzzle together, it amazed me.  Language still amazes me.  If someone believes in evolution and we all came through the zoo, all one needs to do is study the science of language.  Language is the most complicated thing a creature can do.  To express a thought in a detailed manner through an external manifestation is something to behold.  Learning how grammar and syntax work is something not many people can master.  It takes years of study and practice to master a language to perfection.  One must deal with knowledge.  He or she has to muddle over things and try to fit one thing with another.  Patterns need to be discovered.  Why certain syntax works in one language and not another is an interesting detail to uncover.  The ability to proficiently communicate is not a skill easily learned.  Dealing with knowledge is the only way by which this can be accomplished.

Prudence means knowing what is the best option and doing so on principle.  Prudence can foresee the results of choices.  Prudence can look down the road and know if choice A was the choice, there are certain sets of circumstances that follow.  Prudence foresees the trouble and avoids it.  The suggestion here is simple.  If we are to navigate life successfully, ignorance is our enemy.  We are not to blindly go through life and let life happen.  The bible calls this type of person a simple person.  The wise take the time to learn.  They take the time to observe.  They take the time to challenge what they think they know against the word of God.  They spend time studying the Bible to find and apply truth.  Their time is dedicated to mental growth.  They deal with knowledge.  They pick it up and work with it.  They twist it one way or another.  They test it against what they think they know to see if what they know is correct.  The prudent man is a student.  He is a learner.  He soaks up knowledge not so that he can accumulate it.  Rather, he soaks it up so that he can use it for the glory of God, for the benefit of others, and for the blessings of life.  The prudent man deals with knowledge.  He doesn’t let it sit idle in a corner.