It was true, there was in this world a class of people who never worked for what they wanted, who took what they pleased them no matter how.”
–D. B. Olsen (The Night of the Bowstring)
“True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing wrong was found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and fairness and turned many from sin.”
–Malachi 2:6 (HCSB)
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10 — My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
11 — If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait to shed blood; let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
12 — Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
13 — We shall find all kinds of precious possessions, we shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 — Cast in your lot amongus, let us all have one purse”– (NKJV)
Drive the pagans out of the land (Numbers 22:53-55). While this cannot be possible in our country, we are implored to watch our company. We are to beware of “friends” that could lead to habitual sin in our lives. I used to tell my students that if I wanted to make them mad I would discuss their choice of music and friends. Not only are we to be wise and cautious regarding the path we walk, but also those we meet along the way. This is the wisdom of Proverbs 1:10-16.
Verse 10 is a key verse. Charles Bridges writes, “Consent constitutes the sin.” The responsibility and choice is ours, but know this that “sinners take pains to pervert their companions.” (Niclas Brady) It’s easy to follow the crowd. That is why it is imperative that our children and grandchildren are grounded, firmly established, in the Word of God. There is great pressure when they leave home whether it be college, military, career, or the workforce, to get involved with wrong companions. “The sinner has a plan and a program to get something for nothing. He lives off someone else and makes someone else suffer in order that he might prosper.” (J. Vernon McGee) Do not get involved with this type of person.
It’s easy to follow the crowd; if you do so, you must make sure it’s the right and proper crowd. “It’s easy to ‘goof off’ at work, to not put in a full day’s work for a full day’s wages.” (McGee) It’s easy to say, “that’s good enough” when really the work is subpar. To put it bluntly, that is stealing and shows a lack of integrity. One of my pet peeves as an administrator was that teachers would claim they didn’t have to do any work on their “off period.” I had to get across to them that it was not an “off period” but a planning period, a time for grading. There is no time to waste, or to steal (so to speak) from God and kingdom work.
15 — My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path;
16 — For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. (NKJV)
Do not walk with the world. We must be separate from those of the world and its system. Paul tells us, “Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” (2 Corinthians 6:17, NKJV) Charles Bridges warns us about the world and those in it, “How can substance be found belonging to a world of shadows?” He further states, “Every step on Satan’s ground deprives us of the security of the promises of God.” Therefore refrain from the first step.
We see in the above verses their plot: shed blood, especially of an innocent person and to do it just for fun; take precious possessions, in other words become a thief and filling your houses with unlawful gain; then they have the “all for one and one for all” attitude, but I would ask, is their honor among thieves? I will repeat, do not take the first step. As we can form sinful habits, we can also develop a habitual resistance to sin. Part of that resistance is to not fall in with the wrong type of companions. If we do, “The tender conscience becomes less sensitive by every compliance. Who can stop himself in the downhill road? One sin prepares for another, pleads for it, nay, even makes it necessary for concealment.” (Bridges)
Be aware, it can happen to anyone who is not guarding themselves. Look at Aaron who was led astray by the crowd. He foolishly made a golden calf, an idol to worship in pagan revelry. The crowd welcomed Jesus and a week later they were clamoring, “Crucify Him!” We need to walk the pathways of God’s wisdom, be fully persuaded of our doctrine, stand firm in the faith, and find friends from among God’s people. I am reminded of the chorus written by an unknown author:
“Keep me true, Lord Jesus, keep me true,
Keep me true, Lord Jesus, keep me true,
There’s a race that I must run,
There are victories to be won,
Ev’ry hour by Thy pow’ keep me true.”
—————————————-
10 — My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
11 — If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait to shed blood; let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
12 — Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
13 — We shall find all kinds of precious possessions, we shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 — Cast in your lot amongus, let us all have one purse”– (NKJV)
Drive the pagans out of the land (Numbers 22:53-55). While this cannot be possible in our country, we are implored to watch our company. We are to beware of “friends” that could lead to habitual sin in our lives. I used to tell my students that if I wanted to make them mad I would discuss their choice of music and friends. Not only are we to be wise and cautious regarding the path we walk, but also those we meet along the way. This is the wisdom of Proverbs 1:10-16.
Verse 10 is a key verse. Charles Bridges writes, “Consent constitutes the sin.” The responsibility and choice is ours, but know this that “sinners take pains to pervert their companions.” (Niclas Brady) It’s easy to follow the crowd. That is why it is imperative that our children and grandchildren are grounded, firmly established, in the Word of God. There is great pressure when they leave home whether it be college, military, career, or the workforce, to get involved with wrong companions. “The sinner has a plan and a program to get something for nothing. He lives off someone else and makes someone else suffer in order that he might prosper.” (J. Vernon McGee) Do not get involved with this type of person.
It’s easy to follow the crowd; if you do so, you must make sure it’s the right and proper crowd. “It’s easy to ‘goof off’ at work, to not put in a full day’s work for a full day’s wages.” (McGee) It’s easy to say, “that’s good enough” when really the work is subpar. To put it bluntly, that is stealing and shows a lack of integrity. One of my pet peeves as an administrator was that teachers would claim they didn’t have to do any work on their “off period.” I had to get across to them that it was not an “off period” but a planning period, a time for grading. There is no time to waste, or to steal (so to speak) from God and kingdom work.
15 — My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path;
16 — For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. (NKJV)
Do not walk with the world. We must be separate from those of the world and its system. Paul tells us, “Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” (2 Corinthians 6:17, NKJV) Charles Bridges warns us about the world and those in it, “How can substance be found belonging to a world of shadows?” He further states, “Every step on Satan’s ground deprives us of the security of the promises of God.” Therefore refrain from the first step.
We see in the above verses their plot: shed blood, especially of an innocent person and to do it just for fun; take precious possessions, in other words become a thief and filling your houses with unlawful gain; then they have the “all for one and one for all” attitude, but I would ask, is their honor among thieves? I will repeat, do not take the first step. As we can form sinful habits, we can also develop a habitual resistance to sin. Part of that resistance is to not fall in with the wrong type of companions. If we do, “The tender conscience becomes less sensitive by every compliance. Who can stop himself in the downhill road? One sin prepares for another, pleads for it, nay, even makes it necessary for concealment.” (Bridges)
Be aware, it can happen to anyone who is not guarding themselves. Look at Aaron who was led astray by the crowd. He foolishly made a golden calf, an idol to worship in pagan revelry. The crowd welcomed Jesus and a week later they were clamoring, “Crucify Him!” We need to walk the pathways of God’s wisdom, be fully persuaded of our doctrine, stand firm in the faith, and find friends from among God’s people. I am reminded of the chorus written by an unknown author:
“Keep me true, Lord Jesus, keep me true,
Keep me true, Lord Jesus, keep me true,
There’s a race that I must run,
There are victories to be won,
Ev’ry hour by Thy pow’ keep me true.”