If you would like to extend this over a week, you can easily do one of the points each day of your devotion.  Here is a printable version.

The prudent act as if then is now; as if the future is the present. The simple respond as if tomorrow will always be tomorrow.

Open your group with a prayer.
                                                                                                             
This is only a guide.  Pick and choose your points.
 
Q:  Why do many believers tend to charge down the path of least resistance?  ________________
       _______________________________________________________________________________________________
       _______________________________________________________________________________________________

1.  “The FEAR of the Lord”:  RECOGNITION and REVERENCE that lead to wisdom.
 
2.  The direction of your life determines your destination.  Your DECISIONS determine your         direction.
 
Q:  How can you tell ahead of time if your path will take you to a destination you desire?
       _______________________________________________________________________________________________
       _______________________________________________________________________________________________
       _______________________________________________________________________________________________
 
Q:  What process do use you to determine that?  ______________________________________________
       ______________________________________________________________________________________________
       ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Proverbs 27:12 - The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
 
The backdrop:
 
1.  This story has two people, two responses, and two outcomes.          

2.  The prudent in the book of Proverbs is the WISE person.                          

1. They SEE how decisions yesterday are connected to today and how decisions today are connected to tomorrow.         

Q:  Can you share a time when you made a decision in the past that now you are experiencing          the consequences whether it be good or bad?  ______________________________________________
       ________________________________________________________________________________________________
       ________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
Q:  What does it mean to act as if the future is the present?  _____________________________________
      _________________________________________________________________________________________________
      _________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
Q:  What is so dangerous about acting as if tomorrow will never come?  ________________________
       ________________________________________________________________________________________________
       ________________________________________________________________________________________________

• They ask the RIGHT question: Is it wise for me to do…?

3.  The word “simple” is also translated as the word “naïve.” The simple person thinks life’s decisions are disconnected.
 
a. The simple/naïve person thinks that today is about today and tomorrow is about tomorrow and that they’re not really all that CONNECTED.                  
 
Q:  If you could go back in time, what would you tell yourself at 17?  ____________________________
       ________________________________________________________________________________________________
       ________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q:  And what difference might it have made if you actually taken your own advice?  ___________
      ________________________________________________________________________________________________
      ________________________________________________________________________________________________

Proverbs 27:12 - The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

4.  The danger for believers:  

We CONFUSE conviction and action.                

Q:  Share a time when you were convicted and acted and share a time when you were                        convicted and took no action.  ________________________________________________________________
      _________________________________________________________________________________________________
      _________________________________________________________________________________________________

John 14:15 - "If you love me, you will obey what I command."

Job 23:12 - I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
 
5.  The result of being prudent is that you look FOOLISH because prudent people act now.
 
Proverbs 27:12 - The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

In an effort to be wise, you appear to be foolish, even fearful. You look a bit silly now because you are taking steps to avoid something that later.

Q:  How can wisdom sometimes appear to be foolish or fearful?  ______________________________
       ________________________________________________________________________________________________
       ________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
The four phrases:

• Take ACTION

The prudent see danger and they don’t pray, and they don’t think about it, and they don’t contemplate. When they see danger, they take refuge. They do something.
 
Q:  Are there any actions to take?  _______________________________________________________________
       _______________________________________________________________________________________________
       _______________________________________________________________________________________________
 

•  Make SACRIFICES
  
  

Q:  Any sacrifices that you need to make?  _______________________________________________________
       ________________________________________________________________________________________________
       ________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Prepare to be EMBARRASSED
  
  

Q:  How can you resist the urge to give in to changes of appearing foolish or embarrassed?
       ________________________________________________________________________________________________
       ________________________________________________________________________________________________
       ________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Prepare to be RELIEVED
  
  

Q:  Can you share a time when you looked back and said, “Man. I’m glad I didn’t,” or “I did?”
       ________________________________________________________________________________________________
       ________________________________________________________________________________________________
       ________________________________________________________________________________________________