Discernment and Our Conduct

Bible proverbs help us to use discernment and avoid improper conduct.  For example, Proverbs 10:23 says: "To the stupid one the carrying on of loose conduct is like sport, but wisdom  is for the man of discernment."  Those to whim loose conduct is "like sport" are blind to the wrongness of their course and discount to God as the one to whom all must render an account. (Romans 14:12) Such 'stupid ones'  become perverted in their reasoning to the point of assuming that God does not see their wrongdoing.  By their actions, they in effect say:  "There is no Jehovah." (Psalm 14:1-3; Isaiah 29:15, 16) Not being guided by godly principles, they lack discernment and cannot judge matters correctly.- Proverbs 28:5.

"The man of discernment" realizes that loose conduct is not "sport," a game. He knows that it displeases God and can destroy our relationship with him.  Such conduct is stupid because it robs people of self-respect, ruins marriages, harms both  mind and body, and leads to loss of spirituality.  Let us therefore incline our heart to discernment and avoid loose conduct or immorality of any kind. -Proverbs 5:1-23. 

Next time: Discernment and Our Spirit

From the Watchtower magazine, 1997