“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” ( Mathew 10:16).

Naïveté is used to describe one who takes an action generally considered as in lacking good judgment. When a child jumps into a pool without any idea of how to swim, to his certain folly, if he is rescued in good time, that can be excused as adventurous of the child. But if it was an adult then such an action might be labeled as “being naive” to be polite, though some may even write it off as “being stupid”- particularly if it ends in fatality!

Believers in Christ can have a challenge distinguishing between “being naive” and “acting with faith”! The Bible has innumerable heroic instances which at first glance border on naïveté but were of faith. When Daniel walks into a den of lion looking up to God to rescue him that might be considered as naive of him and his comrades. But then that ended up with his faith being rewarded!

Now would that mean Believers in Christ should walk into enemy territory fire with open arms- after all they have faith! Far from it God would expect any of us to take sensible precautions. When Moses ventured into enemy territory he was instructed by God to first send out spies to scout the land before deciding on an attack strategy. “The Lord said to Moses, “Send men to explore Canaan, which I’m giving to the Israelites. Send one leader from each of their ancestors’ tribes” ( Numbers 13:1-2).

There is a lesson for us here. In dealing with the world we must learn to distinguish between “naïveté” and “acting with faith”! For example, if you are in a job situation and are unfairly attacked it would be naive of you to ignore warnings that might further give ammunitions to your nemesis. If the Boss expects you to report to duty on time do not be naive by slackening because you have faith in God. That is as good as walking into fire with raised hands.

Have faith and use it well, without being naive!

Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, as I deal with the world and the cunningness of its master the devil, I pray for wisdom and discernment, to distinguish between faith and naïveté, so as to glorify you with victory, this I pray in Jesus’s name.