Simple Scurvy

(Proverbs 9:16 KJV)  Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

It is dangerous to be “simple” (naive NASB) (6612a).  This is obviously a concern of Solomon.  He uses the word at least 14 times in Proverbs.  If you read on here you see that it has eternal consequences. 

The sad part about this is that naivety, or simplicity, is like scurvy.  It can be avoided.  It can be cured.  It can also kill.  To avoid scurvy requires a certain minimum of readily available vitamin C.   Sure, there are specific instances that it might be unavailable.  Sailors in the old days and people on the frontier over a long winter come to mind.   They were locked into their worlds but even there a little planning went a long way. 

The first step is to realize the problem.  The second is to do something about it.  For scurvy there are many sources of vitamin C.  For the naive there are many sources of wisdom.  I can think of 66 different sources just in the pages of your Bible.  A Bible on the shelf is like a bottle of vitamin C in the cupboard.  It doesn’t do any good unless open and consumed.

So?  Make a choice of what you want for your life and act on it.  How about Proverbs 9 for today?  The whole chapter, not just my interpretation.