Raising Kids in the Age of Foolishness

There are enough fools in the world!

Raising Kids in the Age of Foolishness: Foundational Traits of Wisdom #6, Practical Living

Proverbs 22:3 “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.”

What makes living practical? Technically, all living is practical since we all practice something every second of the day. As I write I have been awakened from seven hours of practical sleep. I practically slept. Perhaps I should have titled this section “Practical Learning.” Oh well, too late now! We normally use the idea of “practical” over against the “impractical.” Let’s approach this subject through the back door. As our text says, the simple person sees danger and keeps going into it. That is impractical. What makes it impractical to run into danger when you don’t have to do so? You can do it, but the risks outweigh the benefits. A person could take his whole salary and buy lottery tickets each week, but this is not practical. He is likely to starve to death and be homeless very quickly. Could he win a million dollars? Yes, but the risk of losing everything outweighs the potential rewards.

The prudent and practical thing to do when you see danger is to take refuge. Imagine a Cat 5 hurricane approaching the coast and you are in evacuation zone A, living in a 17-foot travel trailer. Can you ride the storm out? It is not likely. Obviously, the risk far outweighs any benefit you might experience in being able to see Hurricane Diablo up close and personal. For what? So, you can wear the t-shirt? “I survived a Cat 5 hurricane.” We see the principle in the extremes, but we often ignore them in areas that seem more reasonable to us.

What is practical living? Saving some of your income for the “rainy day” is practical. Eating healthy food is practical. Brushing your teeth is practical. Watching out for snakes is practical. Putting your turn signal on is practical. Wearing shoes in a briar patch is practical. You see what I mean? Parents have a lot of practicality to teach their children. Do this; don’t do that. Risks/Benefits? Slow or fast? Bend your knees when lifting. Teaching practical living is more practical than allowing your children to experience the impracticability of life lived without wisdom