My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
What are good men? They are the men who resist the temptation to sin. What are great men? They are the men who resist the efforts of others to get them to sin. They will not give in, no matter how desirable or advantageous an evil thing or person may be. Regradless of the consequences, they will hold onto truth and righteousness.
Reader, sinners are not content or satisfied with sinning and going to hell by themselves. They want others to join or partake in their wickedness. To help justify their evil lives they bring the innocent into their friends group and sinful activities. The devil uses them to destroy and corrupt God's children.
A group of cutthroats luring and enticing an innocent young man into their gang is described in this context. They offer him riches, they offer him unity, they offer him friendship and they offer him success. These individuals are headed for ruin and they are wicked, and The Preacher warned his son to stay away from them. ( Proverbs 1:15–19 ).
Strong men, dear reader, will not for any reason, agree with sinners. The folly of fools anger strong men, and they are committed to what is right. They hate the wicked. ( Psalm 101:3 ) ( Psalm 139:21–22 ). They do not care less what the wicked do in their evil plans or what they think.
So how do sinners lure, entice, attract or seduce saints you might ask? There are several ways actually, and their different methods will provide you with excellent lessons for increasing in understanding and wisdom. If you want to be wise and prudent dear reader, you must learn to identify the sinners' enticements and you must reject them!
Woe to those who exalt family over the Bible, for by coddling family they will compromise true godliness. For family? Oh what a cheap sell-out! A dinner table consisting of sinners and saints confused? Jesus' disciples were taught by Him to hate family in comparison to Him. ( Luke 14:26 ). To test your love of Him his doctrine divides families. ( Matthew 10:34–37). You are not worthy of Christ and the truth if you do not forsake family for Him. God destroyed Eli's family tree forever, because Eli chose his sons. ( 1 Samuel 3:13).
You trap your own soul if you worry what others think or do. ( Proverbs 29:25 ). To gain their approval you will compromise Scripture. When it involves children it is called peer pressure. Little is said when it involves adults. Whata terrible and disgusting fear dear reader! Why not instead say, "I will not fear what man will or shall do unto me". ( Hebrews 13:6). Brave and noble in his intentions Peter compromised horribly before mere maids. Pilate could not release Jesus before the Jews because he was convicted himself and he was warned by his wife.
Because some people are so desperate to keep their friends they will do anything to keep their standing. Do you know what overwhelms these weaklings? Standing alone! To survice they need support and acceptance. For fear of losing synagogue membership believers among the Jews would not confess Jesus. This compromising association with sinners is condemned by God. Like Caleb and Joshua God is looking for men who will stand against the crowd.
If the young man was to join the violent gang he was told he could fill his house with treasure. ( Proverbs 1:13 ). To get ahead in their professions how many men have sacrificed their convictions? What a disgusting and revolting trade dear reader! To buy the soul of Judas and sell the Lord Jesus Christ took only 30 pieces of silver. How cheap!
There are three kinds of sin that the world's enticements can be reduced to:
These three enticements were used on Eve by Satan, and they worked. ( Genesis 3:6 ). He tried them again on the Lord, but all three were rejected by Jesus Christ! Dear reader, allow me to ask you, are you able to identify your weakness to these enticements when offered to you by sinners?
Dear reader, make sure you are settled on the rock of God's Word! Make sure you remain there regardless of who might try to entice you or what they might try to offer you. Examine yourself dear reader, and make sure to remove yourself from any peer temptations that might come your way!
