“So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices. For the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.” (Proverbs 1:31-32)
Naivety and complacency seem like such docile words. This is likely the case because both words refer to being passive.
A naïve person is passive in their acquisition of knowledge. They don’t know better and aren’t striving to rectify their ignorance.
A complacent person is passive in their behavior. They are not actively malevolent or unkind, but they lack hustle and the discipline to get done what they know they ought to.
Naivety is understandable in a child, but when an adult remains that way, it becomes a willful decision. Complacency may sound polite, but it is just a euphemism for laziness. These sins, like all sins, have consequences. If you don’t know better and do better, then you fail to be what you ought. Life is short – be active.
This Week’s Reading: 1 Samuel 25-31; 2 Samuel 1-2; Psalm 32; Proverbs 1 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament. Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon. If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision