Many Christians and Believers think just because they are Christians they are supposed to tolerate all situations even negative and unpleasant situations that could land them into trouble.

Sometimes when they find themselves in a situation of discomfort that requires them to take an action, they would rather not speak out or react, they prefer to stay silent and end up landing into deep big problems.

For instance if you work in an office where you notice a colleague that has been stealing from the office, instead of reporting, you are afraid that you could get implicated and so you keep quiet until someday when the fraud is discovered maybe when the fraudster had left the organization, then the management holds you responsible for the fraud because you worked in the same office. You were aware all along that you could get into trouble even though you were not the one doing the fraud but you kept shut until it was too late. You could either get sacked or even prosecuted for a fraud you did not commit for your not being smart.

Or you have a prostituting friend, but because you don’t want to offend her you keep following her to every party she invites you, thinking you could control yourself and won’t be harmed until you find yourself doing the same thing as the prostitute whom you should have left long ago! The prostitute may get saved but you may end up dying of AIDS or other deadly diseases or even be used for money rituals.

The world is a very big place, as big as it is there will always be bad people just as there will always be good people.

The Bible in Matthew 10: 16 says, “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.”

Okay the bible did not say because you are sheep you won’t be among the wolves. No, it is a world and everyone must live together, the sheep must live with the wolves, but we all know that the wolves can kill the sheep if the sheep is not smart to know where to go to and when to run.

And that is why Jesus told them to be shrewd as the snakes and harmless as doves. To be shrewd is to be good at judging what people or situations are really like. As Christians, you are expected to be shrewd like the snake.

Have you ever encountered a snake before, if you have and you took your time to study the way a snake reacts; a snake is fast to either attack or to escape in an unfavorable situation. A snake will move swiftly and very fast either to or from an attacker when being attacked.

Christians are advised therefore to be as shrewd as the snake, meaning they should be wise to know what to do when they find themselves in some unfavorable conditions.

The bible also says Christians should be as harmless as doves. That means a Christian should have no reason to be a wicked or bad person and should not be part of anything evil but should be wise enough to know the decision to take when faced with a negative situation.

CITY Pastor

Notice: Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.

For more information and sponsor enquiry of the CITY Pastor’s Ministry, please Contact: citypastor@ackcity.net

Source: http://www.ackcity.net/be-shrewd-as-a-snake

The snake is known for it's ability to navigate all terrains, through it's flexibility.
Therefore, know that the world and all knowledge of it is meant for you to use and profit from, whether food, music, sex(yes! even sex), academics\science, etc. nothing if forbidden in the eyes of god(FOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S, AND ALL IT CONTAINS -1 Corinthians 10:26). You must respect practical wisdom by participating in it, rather than waiting for god to come solve your practical issues like finance, education\skills, jobs, etc. God will only intervene at the limits of practicality.

The dove is known as a symbol of peace:
Therefore, all things are meant for your use and control, rather than you being controlled by them. If you are addicted to a behavior that is destructive, then you cause harm to yourself, and subsequently pass that harm to others.