My son, if sinners entice (allure, flatter) thee, consent thou not. Proverbs 1.10
Remember that Solomon was the son of King David. In 1 Chron 28.9,
David told Solomon to know The Lord, serve The Lord, seek The Lord and do not forsake Him. My son, is a phrase that is repeated in the book of Proverbs. It is obvious that the young person addressed in this book is at that stage in life equivalent to our youth group age, where they are beginning to experience biological changes and are beginning to explore the realities of the world. This godly father is going to tell his son some of the facts of life. Our Gracious heavenly Father speaks to each one of us through these proverbs as well. My son if sinners entice thee. Choose friends carefully. You know the old adage, if you hang around with dogs, you are sure to get fleas. Mark it down folks, those who choose the wicked for their companions become like them in character and practice.
Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
One of the things that we constantly deal with no matter how old we are is peer pressure. For many adults, peer pressure comes in the form of “keeping up with the Jones’. J.B. Phillips translation on Romans 12.2 says don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold.
The word entice carries the idea of luring; Webster defines the word this way: To incite or instigate, by exciting hope or desire; to induce to sin, by promises or persuasions. How I need to realize that this world system is very tantalizing to my flesh!
James says, Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. The world’s lure of pleasure or fun never tells you what it is really going to cost you. The cost of an addiction. The loss of virginity. The time paid for the crime committed. The overwhelming debt. But the God Who loves warns us about this in His Word.
As followers of The Lord Jesus Christ we should be a friend of publicans and sinners for the sake of the gospel, but not for the sake of partaking of their sinful ways. Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Who are your dearest friends beloved? Anyone who does not encourage you to walk closer to Jesus and live for His glory is not your friend. Selah
