Are You a Simpleton?

P.T. Barnum said a sucker is born every minute, but his estimate was laughably low. - Jonathan Gruber

From Solomon’s point of view, every one of us was born “simple”—that is, gullible, credulous, naïve.  While P.T. Barnum saw human gullibility as an opportunity for profit, the proverbs see the condition as a character weakness to be corrected.

The first practical step to wisdom is to identify the simpleton in ourselves.  As my initial post showcased, we must start by using our most powerful leadership tool.

Proverbs 14:15 says, “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his step.”  Proverbs 27:12 says, “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.”

Click here for more wisdom from Proverbs 7

More Benefits of Wisdom

In Proverbs chapters 3 and 4, Solomon again strives to convince his son that wisdom is worth pursuing.

In fact, he offers the following tidbits of wisdom for enhancing our lives:

  • Trusting God (3:5 above)
  • Turning from sin (3:7)
  • A proper attitude toward money (3:9-10)
  • God’s discipline (3:11-12)
  • Living fearlessly (3:23-26)
  • Love for neighbors (3:27-30)
  • Humility (3:34)
  • Avoiding bad company (4:11-19)
  • Disciplining the body (4:20-27)

Click here for more about Wisdom’s Value & Wisdom’s Supremacy from The Navigators’ Life Change Bible Study on the Book of Proverbs