Carefulness, in a biblical context, refers to the practice of exercising caution, diligence, and attentiveness in one's actions and decisions. It is a quality that is encouraged throughout Scripture, as it aligns with living a life that honors God and reflects His wisdom. The concept of carefulness encompasses both practical and spiritual dimensions, urging believers to be mindful of their conduct and the impact of their choices.

Biblical References:

1. Proverbs 4:23 : "Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life." This verse highlights the importance of being careful with one's inner life, as the heart is the source of one's actions and attitudes. Diligence in guarding the heart is a form of carefulness that ensures one's life aligns with God's will.

2. Ephesians 5:15-16 : "Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Here, the Apostle Paul exhorts believers to be careful in their daily conduct, emphasizing the need for wisdom and the prudent use of time in a world filled with moral challenges.

3. Philippians 4:6 : "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." While this verse addresses anxiety, it also implies a careful approach to life's concerns by entrusting them to God through prayer, rather than being consumed by worry.

4. 1 Peter 5:8 : "Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." This admonition to be sober-minded and alert underscores the necessity of carefulness in spiritual vigilance, recognizing the reality of spiritual warfare.

Practical Application:

Carefulness manifests in various aspects of a believer's life, including:

· Speech: Proverbs 13:3 states, "He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin." Carefulness in speech involves being thoughtful and intentional with words, avoiding gossip, slander, and rash statements.

· Decision-Making: Proverbs 19:2 warns, "Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark." Making decisions with careful consideration and seeking God's guidance is crucial to avoid hasty and regrettable choices.

· Relationships: Ephesians 4:2-3 encourages believers to "walk with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Carefulness in relationships involves nurturing unity and peace through thoughtful and loving interactions.

· Stewardship: Luke 16:10 teaches, "Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." Carefulness in stewardship requires managing resources, time, and talents responsibly and faithfully.

Spiritual Dimension:

Carefulness is not merely a matter of human effort but is deeply rooted in one's relationship with God. It involves seeking His wisdom and guidance through prayer and Scripture, allowing the Holy Spirit to cultivate discernment and prudence. As believers grow in their walk with Christ, carefulness becomes a natural outflow of a life surrendered to His lordship, reflecting His character in every aspect of life.(n.) Quality or state of being careful.CARE; CAREFULNESS; CAREFUL

kar, kar'-fool-ness, kar'-fool: The English word "care" has such a variety of meanings, and so many Hebrew and Greek words in the Bible are translated by this English expression and its compounds, that it is difficult to organize them into a single brief article. We may do so, however, by remembering that into our word are really woven two strands, one Teutonic and one Latin. The former element implies a measure of trouble or sorrow, as the pain from a blow, a throb, a distress in the mind; the latter, from Latin cura, implies a stretching forward, attention to some person or thing. We can often discern these two senses side by side in the Bible, and sometimes they almost run into one another. This is so especially in the King James Version. We can treat the subject best by keeping separate, as far as possible, these two senses.

I. In the Sense of Anxiety, Solicitude.

1. Substantives:

In the Old Testament several words are translated "care" in this sense. "Thy father hath left off caring for the asses," concern about them literally, "matters of the asses" (dibhre, 1 Samuel 10:2). "They shall eat bread by weight, and with care" (de'-aghah, "carefulness" the Revised Version (British and American); "fearfulness" the American Standard Revised Version, Ezekiel 4:16). The same word is rendered carefulness (the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American); "fearfulness," the American Standard Revised Version, Ezekiel 12:18-19); and "fear" (King James Version; "carefulness," the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version, Joshua 22:24). Again, "heaviness" (the Kings James Version; the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version), but "care" (the Revised Version, margin and the American Revised Version, margin, Proverbs 12:25). Once more, "sorrow" (the King James Version, the Revised with Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version), but "care" (the Revised Version, margin and the American Revised Version, margin, Jeremiah 49:23). There is also the word charadhah "trembling," "fear," "anxiety." It is rendered "trembling" (Genesis 27:33 the King James Version). But "thou hast been careful for us all this care" ("showed us all this reverence," the Revised Version, margin, the American Revised Version, margin, 2 Kings 4:13). In the New Testament, "care," in the sense of anxiety, is the meaning given to merimna, the condition of being drawn mentally in different directions, distraction of mind. "Care of the world" (Matthew 13:22 Mark 4:19 Luke 8:14, "cares of this life," Luke 21:34); "care of all the churches" (2 Corinthians 11:28) ("anxiety," the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version); "casting all your care upon him" ("anxiety," the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version, 1 Peter 5:7). Also in the Apocrypha, "My heart faileth for care" (1 Maccabees 6:10); "Care bringeth old age before the time" (Sirach 30:24). To these may be added the adjective amerimnos, "I would have you without carefulness" (King James Version; "free from cares," the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version, 1 Corinthians 7:32).

2. Verbs:

In the Old Testament (da'agh, "to have concern or anxiety for"). "Not be careful in the year of drought" (Jeremiah 17:8). (sum lebh, "to set the heart upon"), "If we flee away, they will not care for us" ("set their heart upon us" King James Version, margin, 2 Samuel 18:3).

In the New Testament (memrinao), "Thou art careful and troubled" ("anxious" the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version, Luke 10:41). "He that is unmarried careth for things that belong to the Lord" ("is careful for," the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version, 1 Corinthians 7:32-34). "Members should have the same care one for another" (1 Corinthians 12:25). "Who will naturally care (the American Standard Revised Version "care truly") for your state" (Philippians 2:20). "Be careful for nothing" ("in nothing be anxious," the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version, Philippians 4:6). The Apocrypha has "careful" (Baruch 3:18) and the Revised Version (British and American) has "be not careful overmuch," where a distinction is plainly made between care in the sense of anxiety and of attention, for a person cannot be too attentive, but he may be too anxious (2 Esdras 2:27).

The impersonal verb (melei), though not quite so strong as merimnao, always implies a degree of concern higher than is felt in mere attention. "Carest thou not that we perish?" (Mark 4:38). "Carest not for anyone" (the King James Version "no man," Matthew 22:16 Mark 12:14). "Dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone?" (Luke 10:40). "Careth not for the sheep" (John 10:13). "Cared for the poor" (John 12:6). "Gallio cared for none of these things" (Acts 18:17). "Care not for it" (1 Corinthians 7:21). "He careth for you" (1 Peter 5:7). "Doth God care for oxen?" (better, "Is it for the oxen that God careth?" the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version, 1 Corinthians 9:9).

II. In the Sense of Attention.

1. Substantives:

In the sense of attention, with the flavor of earnestness added from the original Teutonic meaning of the word care, we have the translation of spoude, "speed," "earnest care." "What carefulness it wrought in you" ("earnest care," the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version, 2 Corinthians 7:11). "Our care for you in the sight of God" ("earnest care," the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version, 2 Corinthians 7:12). "Put the same care into the heart of Titus" ("earnest care," the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version, 2 Corinthians 8:16). We have also phronein, the infin. used as a substantive "Your care for me hath flourished" ("thought," the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version, Philippians 4:10). Also phrontis, "thought" ("care" the American Standard Revised Version, The Wisdom of Solomon 6:17; 7:4).

2. Verbs:

"A land which Yahweh thy God careth for" darash, "seek after" ("seeketh after," the Revised Version, margin, the American Revised Version, margin, Deuteronomy 11:12). "No man careth for my soul" ("sought" King James Versions margin, Psalm 142:4; chashach). "We are not careful to answer" (King James Version, also compare the margin, the American Revised Version, margin; "We have no need to answer," the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version, Daniel 3:16). In the New Testament epimeleomai, "Take care of him" (Luke 10:34, 35). "How shall he take care of the church of God?" (1 Timothy 3:5). phrontizo, "to be thoughtful or mindful of," "may be careful to maintain good works" (1 Timothy 3:8).

G. H. Trever

CAREFUL; CAREFULNESS

See CARE.

1958. epimeleia -- attention, care
... careful attention. From epimeleomai; carefulness, ie Kind attention (hospitality) -- +
refresh self. see GREEK epimeleomai. (epimeleias) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1958.htm - 6k1674. deagah -- anxiety, anxious care
... Word Origin from daag Definition anxiety, anxious care NASB Word Usage anxiety
(5), concern (1). carefulness, fear, heaviness, sorrow. ...
/hebrew/1674.htm - 6k

What Now Shall I Say Concerning the Very Carefulness and ...
... Section 48. What now shall I say concerning the very carefulness and
watchfulness against sin? "Who? 48. What now shall I say ...
/.../augustine/of holy virginity /section 48 what now shall.htm

The Way from Sin to Perfect Salvation.
... The apostle says in 2:Cor.7:11, "Behold this self-same thing, that ye sorrowed after
a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter v the way from.htm

Diligence.
... Diligence implies an earnest and constant effort to accomplish a desired end"a
carefulness, a heedfulness, an industry, a close and fixed attention. ...
/.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/diligence.htm

"But Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness," &C.
... This is a part of Christ's long sermon. He is dissuading his disciples and
the people from carnal carefulness and worldly mindedness. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xv but seek ye.htm

Epistle xii. To Conon, Abbot of Lirinus (Lerins).
... The carefulness of persons in authority is the safeguard of subjects, since one
who watches over what is entrusted to him avoids the snares of the enemy. ...
/.../gregory/the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle xii to conon abbot.htm

Whether the Effect of Sorrow or Pain is to Burden the Soul?
... For the Apostle says (2:Cor.7:11): "Behold this self-same thing, that you were made
sorrowful according to God, how great carefulness it worketh in you: yea ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the effect of sorrow.htm

Whether Sorrow or Pain Weakens all Activity?
... Because carefulness is caused by sorrow, as is clear from the passage of the Apostle
quoted above (A[2], OBJ[1]). But carefulness conduces to good work ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether sorrow or pain weakens.htm

The Epistle of the Same Phileas of Thmuis to Meletius, Bishop of ...
... we were wont to discharge them with an admonition from such inquisition for matter
of complaint, or that everything was done with all carefulness which seemed ...
/.../phileas/the writings of phileas/the epistle of the same.htm

Sermon for the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity
... This sermon forbiddeth all carefulness, and telleth in what righteousness consisteth,
and rebukes sundry religious people and their works, likening their ways ...
/.../xxiv sermon for the fifteenth.htm

Childhood and Early Impressions. The Blessing of Pious Parents. ...
... These books, with my mother's carefulness to make us say our prayers, and to bring
us up devout to our Lady and to certain Saints, began to make me think ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/chapter i childhood and early.htm

Carefulness (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Quality or state of being careful. Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia. CARE; CAREFULNESS; CAREFUL. kar ...
/c/carefulness.htm - 17k

Care (466 Occurrences)
... followed by an objective of measure. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CARE;
CAREFULNESS; CAREFUL. kar, kar'-fool-ness, kar'-fool: The ...
/c/care.htm - 44k

Careful (130 Occurrences)
... careful of money; careful to do right. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CARE;
CAREFULNESS; CAREFUL. kar, kar'-fool-ness, kar'-fool: The ...
/c/careful.htm - 44k

Careless (10 Occurrences)

/c/careless.htm - 11k

Vehement (10 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly
sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves ...
/v/vehement.htm - 11k

Growth (77 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Growth (77 Occurrences). Matthew 6:27 But which of
you by carefulness can add to his growth one cubit? (DBY). ...
/g/growth.htm - 29k

Diligence (31 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Carefulness; careful attention; -- the
opposite of negligence. 2. (n.) Interested and persevering ...
/d/diligence.htm - 18k

Prudence (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Wisdom in the way of caution and provision;
discretion; carefulness; hence, also, economy; frugality. Int. ...
/p/prudence.htm - 11k

Clearing (11 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly
sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves ...
/c/clearing.htm - 11k

Careth (10 Occurrences)
... careth not for the sheep. (KJV ASV WBS). 1 Corinthians 7:32 But I would
have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth ...
/c/careth.htm - 9k

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is faithfulness? | GotQuestions.org

Carefulness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus