Common Sense For Living Well

Common sense isn't so common anymore.

Common sense is defined as sound judgment in practical matters. In Proverbs 8:5 the writer tells us to develop “common sense” . Some translations simply call common sense “prudence” or “discretion.” Biblically, common sense means a combination of wisdom and discretion (Proverbs 3:21; 8:12–14). Wisdom is knowing what to do; discretion is knowing when and where to do it.

Being a fool is having no common sense or being “void of understanding,” as the KJV pueProverbs 7:7; 24:30). The book of Proverbs emphasizeeProverbs 13:16; 16:22; 26:11). Proverbs 3:13–14 says, “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.” Wisdom means seeing life the way God does. When we see life from God’s perspective, we can make decisions based upon His wisdom rather than our own. When we choose to make decisions based on wisdom, we are exercising common sense.

Instant gratification is the enemy of common sense. Many people have gotten into trouble and suffer heartache because they rejected a wise path and chose instead instant gratification. I call that "the school of hard knocks" and it educates many. Everyone makes bad decisions at some point. The difference between the wise and the foolish is that a wise person learns from his or her mistakes and the fool keeps repeating them. Either way, wisdom and common sense should be continually pursued in order to experience the best God has for us (Proverbs 2:1–8).