The Nugget:
Pro 22:3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. (KJV)
Pro 22:3 The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)
Pro 22:3 Sensible people foresee trouble and hide from it, but gullible people go ahead and suffer the consequence. (GW, God’s Word translation)
Pro 22:3 When you see trouble coming, don’t be stupid and walk right into it– be smart and hide. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)
My Comment:
I was in the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts many years ago during the 1950s. The Boy Scout Motto was “Be Prepared.” That was good advice then, and important advice now. We need to be prepared mentally, physically, and above all, spiritually. We can be prepared mentally by reading good books and by getting our news from reliable news sources. At this time it appears to me that independent news sources are likely more reliable than the so-called main stream news. We need to be prepared physically by getting enough exercise as well as sleep and by eating a proper diet. We can be prepared spiritually by carefully studying our Bible for ourselves.
Here is another important Proverb from the book of Proverbs:
Pro 14:15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. (KJV)
Pro 14:15 The simple man has faith in every word, but the man of good sense gives thought to his footsteps. (BBE)
Pro 14:15 A gullible person believes anything, but a sensible person watches his step. (GW)
Pro 14:15 Don’t be stupid and believe all you hear; be smart and know where you are headed. (CEV)
My Comment:
It is most important to know well both or the several sides to a story. The same is true about controversial subjects. You must study carefully more than one side of the subject before you decide which side, if any, is correct.
I believe God’s Word warns us about falling for propaganda (Proverbs 14:15). The more you can learn about a subject the better you will be able to make correct judgments about current events and contemporary affairs. The more widely read you are and the more broadly educated (yes, I mean getting what used to be called a “liberal education” or “liberal arts education”) you are, the better you will become at discerning truth from falsehood. That is a crucially important skill to have in these perilous times!
Do not follow the crowd. Popular opinion is nearly always wrong. Have you actually read any books, whole books, about propaganda? You ought to become skilled enough to recognize propaganda after hearing even a single sentence advocating falsehood. I believe I am able to do that almost automatically. It makes people mad (“You didn’t even let me finish!”). And yes, I am usually right. Like I told my own father when I was a teenager, “I read more by accident than you do on purpose.” That is still true today. I keep on learning, and so should you.