NAIVETY & IGNORANCE, INNOCENCE & EXCELLENCE

A naïve person is someone with childish innocence view of the world. Children are usually innocent and non-discerning.  That is the expected pattern since there is no anticipation of harm. They dwell in bliss. When an adult is naïve however, it is no virtue. Ignorance in this day and age is a pathway to harm, abuse and monumental fraud against the person, possessions, opportunities or fundamental rights

Innocence on the other hand is a virtue. In the court of law, we hear the accused person plead “innocent” to the charge brought against him.  To be innocent is to be free of guilt. Innocence does not depict blindness to the existence of vices, influences and entrapments in the world and the ever present opportunity to commit a negative act without being apprehended and how not to be apprehended. It is the refusal, the resolute decision not to commit, take advantage or indulge oneself at that point in time.

Everyone is aware that ingestion of chemical substances is fatal. That is Knowledge. Readiness to ingest a harmful substance due to lack discernment is Naivety. (No wonder keep out of reach of children is printed on medication) Not taking time to verify the nature of a possible harmful substance and mistakenly ingesting or causing others to ingest it is “Punishable ignorance”.

Innocence however, is knowing a harmful substance exists, having full awareness of outcome of its ingestion with possible examples and   making conscious effort that it is not ingested by oneself and others

The Bible recommends for us Innocence of evil. We will indeed have an excellent entity – Business concern, relationship, society, if we overcome evil by the weapon of innocence

Innocence is a command. It is also a wise choice- the best choice. For corporations to record excellent Year-end profit, they require personnel who do not create and explore leaks in the system.  Corporations embrace the culture of continuous improvement, meaning no one has got it all fixed. Excellent people will build up the Balance Sheet while naïve, ignorant and corrupt people will deplete it.

When we live as children of God, being fully aware of our environment but choosing to be innocent of the lure of money, entrapments of fashion,  lure of easy virtue, training (by the Holy Spirit and encouragement of a Christian community )our taste palate distaste and detest sin, 

When we  make  the fear of God our utmost. When we seek to serve God by daily business engagement platforms ; be it as an employee, trainee, employer, academic, artiste, social worker, SME, etc.. We are excellent

A resolute person who fears God and sets himself apart from evil may be laughed at by others. Who have not yet come to know the Lord.  He may even be wrongly classified and jeered at as being naïve.

When such happens, the excellent person should hold her head up in confidence, realizing that the others are the ignorant ones .

Stand apart, Be different. Stand for God.

Be Innocent. Be excellent!

Romans 16:19b “I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.”

Celebrate your innocence.

BolaSalt

Sept 9 2014