Proverbs 27:12

A prudent person sees evil and hides himself; but the naïve proceed, and pay the penalty.

The other night I was in my office working on my computer trying to make some progress on a project. I had set a goal for myself to finish a certain part and I really needed to concentrate. In spite of that, I turned on the television to see a rerun of a movie I’d seen a dozen times. I knew that my attention would be divided, but I chose to keep the movie on.

Well an hour later, I had not achieved my goal and the work I did, wasn’t all that good. I needed to re-do a good portion of the work. I saw the danger of distraction, but chose to be distracted anyway. The price I paid was: 1) not accomplishing my goal, 2) spending more time on a project than I needed, and 3) not starting on a second project like I wanted.

Now the example above only affected me. The “price” I had to pay by choosing to be distracted just affected my personal goals for the evening. But sometimes we avoid “prudence” (i.e., making sensible decisions) and the price we pay has much more injurious effects on our lives…and the lives of others:

• Have you gotten romantically involved with a person ignoring the “warning signs” concerning their personality and behaviors?
• Have you entered into a business relationship with someone or some company knowing that their integrity is questionable?
• Did you go along with your friends knowing that the activity they were about to do could lead to trouble?
• Are you spending so much of your time with someone or some activity that’s taking you away from a spouse, children or other responsibilities?
• Do you have a tendency to belittle others?
• Are you selfish?
• Have you put politics, jobs, relationships and even Christian activities ahead of your personal relationship with God?
• Have you denied Christ?

All of these situations above involve seeing a danger, choosing to ignore it and paying a price. Galatians 6:7 – 8 holds true:

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.

Take a few minutes to stop and take an assessment of your life. Are you about to walk into a mess? If so, are you willing to pay the price?