prudence

A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. (Proverbs 27:12 NLT)

Over the years, I’ve owned several companies. One thing I learned was that it was generally not prudent to have a business partner. Why? A business partner is like a marriage, only with a higher failure rate. For your calling from God, be cautious who you include in leadership roles.

Here are some random examples of people God called: Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Esther, David, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Peter, James, John, Paul, Martin Luther, John Calvin, D.L. Moody, Billy Sunday, Billy Graham. In each case, God called a person, not a committee. Jesus isn’t in this list because Jesus is born of God not called by God.

Now you should have accountability. So, advisory boards, a board of elders, a missions board, or so forth, are wise to have. We see this addressed in many places in Scripture, just two are:

Proverbs 12:15 (ESV), The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
Proverbs 15:22 (ESV), Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

God has called you. Every Christian is called by God and has a people, a place, and a purpose in the Body of Christ. So, whatever God calls you to, be prudent, be wise, be bold by faith in Jesus, and pray continually.

I was going to open with a Dad joke but decided it wouldn’t be prudent. Photo by Luca Ambrosi on Unsplash