Common Sense - Proverbs 3

Please Click & Read
Proverbs 3


My child, my child.  Over and over again we read plea after plea for the next generation to heed this wisdom.  In chapter three alone there is verse upon verse of these profound statements - each made to encourage a child into righteousness.  Basic instructions such as, "Never let loyalty and kindness leave you...Don't be impressed with your own wisdom...Honor the Lord with your wealth, and Do not withhold good from those who deserve it," are woven throughout this chapter.

Here is one for your consideration: vs. 21-26

"My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them, for they will refresh your soul.They are like jewels on a necklace.

They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble.

You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly.

You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction 

that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security. 

He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap."

Why do they call it common sense?  Is it really all that common?  Wouldn't a better word for it be valuable sense?  Isn't that what you don't want to loose sight of, your valuables?  Common questions like, "Can you watch my bag?"  or, "Can you keep an eye on my kids?" imply that you value what is there and do not want it to wonder off or to become lost.  So, Solomon must have truly valued common sense to plead with his child to not lose sight of it, so much so he compared it and discernment to, "jewels on a necklace." 

I think Solomon is warning us that with common sense and like so many other valuable things - we must protect it.  Why else do we lock up our assets in safety deposit boxes or purchase insurance for our vehicles, homes and even ourselves?  We are protecting them.  To protect them is...common sense, right?

Click to Enlarge

So how do we use this valuable common sense God gave us?  Well, this passage tells us that we need not fear if we have it.  It will help keep us safe and secure as will the Lord.  It astounds me that something so simple as common sense carries such weight.  Wouldn't you think that you'd need weapons, or wealth, or even storehouses of wisdom to feel safe and secure?  But if you really think about it - using the plain 'ol common sense God gave you can help you can indeed keep you out of a whole heap of trouble - from, "your foot being caught in a trap!"

Here is one more piece of "valuable sense" that we find in today's chapter,"My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights."

Now I do think it takes a lot more than common sense to uphold this very hard instruction.  But consider this, If we are to train the next generation into wisdom, we aught to consider how the Lord deals with us.  We are not free form discipline and correction and neither should our children be.  Our relationship with our children is a pre-cursor to their own relationship with God.  If they do not accept discipline and correction from us, they will surely reject it from the Lord.  Love your children, teach them, train them in righteousness, and yes discipline them according to God's standards - this in turn will ultimately cultivate in them...common sense.


Chapter 3 Survival Skills:
Discernment - vs. 13-20
Self Defense - vs. 3-8, 21-26
Offensive Maneuvers - vs. 9-12, 27-35
Training - vs. 1, 11 & 21 addresses the entire chapter to the next generation, vs. 11-12