PROVERBS 1: 8-19
CHOOSING COMPANIONS
[2 Corinthians 6: 14-18]
How do we learn wisdom or the capacity to exhibit God's character in the many practical affairs of life? We learn wisdom by listening to godly instruction and counsel which is so difficult to hear today. The world's volume has been turned up so loud that it has drowned out wisdom and in our listening to the noise of the world our hearing has been deafened to the voice of God. Radios, televisions, amplified rock music (140 decibels), telephones, pesky salesmen, movies, i-pods, VCRs and DVDs. Airplane engines (140) or power mowers (100) sound off and sinister stereo speakers blasting out so loud that the car shakes. People and sounds invade our privacy and get on our nerves and help destroy our delicate hearing apparatus.
The great tragedy of our day is that there is so much noise that people can't hear the things they desperately need to hear. God is trying to get through to them with the voice of wisdom, but they are confused by the clutter of communication; the foolish voices that lead them farther away from the truth. Even without our modern electronic noise makers, a similar situation existed in ancient Israel, when Solomon wrote Proverbs. God was speaking but people weren't listening. God is still speaking, and we by and large aren't listening still. [Warren Wiersbe. Be Skillful.Victor Books. 1995. p 23-24]
I. 1:8-9; Family Schooling.
II. 1:10-14; Worldly Companions.
III. 1:15-19; Wisdom's Counsel.
The sage's first lesson begins in verse 8 and reflects the family as the primary teaching entity. "Hear my son, your fathers instruction, and do not forsake your mothers teaching.
Here is the first of the numerous appeals the teacher makes in Proverbs as a father speaking to his son. For good or bad, fathers significantly impact their children's lives. Solomon as a wise father, tells his son to listen to his mother's teaching. The ideal influence comes from balanced parental training where both parents bring their skills, talents, gifts and spiritual insight to bear on the life of a child. In the early years (infancy to 6) where 90% of personality is formed and in childhood when character is developed, both parents are needed. In the tumultuous years of youth and adolescence only two parenting parents can give the guidance necessary to overcome all the negative influences in the world.
Single parents struggle to bring about the right training in their children's impressionable and rebellious years. Many do a commendable job in difficult circumstances, but they admit they cannot be both mom and dad. A similar problem occurs when absentee fathers put in occasional visits. Young lives in such circumstances will be deficient in their upbringing and steps should be taken wherever possible to ensure that correct parental influence is available when needed most.
Correct parental influence incorporates "instruction" and "teaching." You may pay the teacher to educate, the psychologist to counsel, the coach to discipline and the pastor to instill values, but the majority of the responsibility still remains with the parents. Those parents who give up the control of formative influence to other are asking for trouble, and usually find it years later. Thus a godly father and mother are involved in urging their children to listen and obey the voice of wisdom
To teach means to bring about learning. Instruction carries the idea of discipline for there is no instruction without discipline. It is through a parent's involvement and correction that a child's character built.
In the jungles of eastern Sri Lanka, 15 soldiers of a government COMMANDO UNIT were SAVED BY TWO DOGS adopted as mascots. According to a news report, the soldiers were completing a 10 mile hike when their dogs sensed danger. Running ahead toward a water hole where the unit planned to rest, the dogs suddenly began barking and circling the area. The troops searched carefully and found 12 buried grenades attached to a taut wire trigger.
It's intriguing to think about those two jungle mascots whose senses were tuned to the smell of danger. The soldiers escaped serious injury and even death because they listened to those barking dogs.
It's disturbing to realize, however, that sometimes we are apt to give lesser credibility and attention to more faithful protectors. How many times have we resented a father's warnings or a mother's advice? How often have we grown tired of a pastor's pleadings or a fellow believers cautions?
Yet, how wise and loving is our God! He sends His messengers to whisper, to plead, and sometimes to howl about hidden dangers, which can do grave harm to our physical and spiritual lives. Let's be wise and listen to the warnings. Remember, if you want to be wise, listen to wise people.
Verse 9 depicts the wisdom a child learns from his parents as adding beauty to his life. Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head and ornaments about your neck.
If children heed their parents' teachings they are promised a garland (some kind of head ornament; 4:9) and a neck chain (3:3,22). What he is saying is that heeding parental instruction would adorn them and give them attractiveness in life. They would be honored.
It seems women instinctually put on adornments or ornaments to enhance their beauty. Wreaths were often placed upon heads for athletic success. We all try to adorn ourselves to enhance our external attractiveness. Some are more successful than others at it. But a beauty that is far more important to put on is the internal beauty of character that is found in obeying godly instruction and teaching. It is an adornment that no external finery can truly compare.
[MOTHER'S INFLUENCE] It is my conviction that many a mother will occupy a higher position in God's kingdom than many prominent Christian leaders whom we might expect to find in places of greater honor.
Think of some of the great men of the Bible like Moses, Samuel, and Timothy. Where would they have been had it not been for their praying, Spirit-led mothers? Think of Augustine, John Newton, and the zealous Wesleys; their names may not have been recorded in the pages of history had it not been for the blessed influence of godly mothers!
The simply prayers from our infant lips were but echoes from our mother's heart. Can we ever forget the soft caresses of those hands of blessing on our heads as we knelt by our beds? Can we fail to remember her night vigils, her seasons of intercession, her well-marked Bible, and her words of admonition and admiration? Her actions spoke eloquently of Him who taught us of the greater love of God.
What a tragedy to neglect the counsel of a godly mother! What eternal consequences to reject her God! If you have wandered from her teaching, turn to Christ before it is too late and make sure you'll meet her in heaven. "Do not forsake the teaching of your mother." A thousand men may build a city, but it takes a mother to make a home.
Obedience brings honor. Let's now see what disobedience and rebellion lead to in point two.
II. EVIL COMPANIONS, (10-14).
When Mike Wood began to advertise his SIGN COMPANY, he didn't know how useful his work would become. Some of his signs were life-size cardboard pictures of kids, which he put close to the street. Besides advertising his business, the signs had another effect. Motorists thought the cutouts were real children and began to drop their speed. Now Mike sells the cardboard kids to parents who want to slow down speeding drivers in their area. Mike said, "We truly hope that some of our standups help to control speeding in neighborhoods around the country."
Parents work at protecting their children from physical danger. But there are other dangers as well. People, especially peers, pose dangers to your children. In verses 10-14 we are warned about those who would mislead our children.
The pressure by the wrong kind of peers to involve youth in the wrong kind of activity can be strong. Verse 10, "My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent." Who here has been given the responsibility of or for youth and has been concerned about the influence of evil companions? The pressure of peers is always strong and can be overwhelmingly so for young people. So God warns us of the danger and then tells us of a method of defense.
"If sinners entice you" is a situation that you will certainly face so prepare your heart for it. Listen to your father's wise plea.
[There is temptation of thought in our private world and of action in our outside world. Our thoughts are tempted to wing their way to haunts of wickedness by the temptation which says they cannot be detected. Once they land on forbidden areas, wickedness seeks to entice you to come more often and stay longer.]
Temptation come when people who have departed the straight path themselves and lacking strength to return, try to draw others after them. An evil doer has a craving for company in his wickedness.
The wise person's response to such danger is "do not consent." Be as one who is sober amongst the drunken and drive home safely. Do not consent, or, just say no. Eve consented and plucked the forbidden fruit. David consented and invited Bathseba over. Young Joseph resisted and said no and was saved. Job prevailed against his companions and was restored.
Beware of the lie of temptation and the devastation it seeks to bring. Though you have the strength of Sampson, temptations companions seek to put your eyes out and make you grind at their mill with them.
In verse 11 we learn that sin entices us by saying it's a quick road to success and makes us part of their group. "If they say, "Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause."
Solomon warns his son about those who, for no just reason, want to hurt innocent people. "Let's lie in wait for" someone's "blood" clearly spells out their murderous intentions. The end result of the enticement to covet what another has is murder. These sinners are ready to take people's lives in order to take what's they want. The fiendishness of the plot is that the innocent is to be slaughtered without cause (Gen 4:8, Ps. 10:8).
Obviously, we are not involved in killing people but if we are hateful, bitter or unforgiving, we are also guilty, for Jesus said whoever is angry at his brother, the same has committed murder (Matthew 5:22). The wise man or wise woman stays away from those who seek to shed innocent blood--be it literally or spiritually.
Their murderous drive is further revealed in verse 12. "Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit;
They say, "They'll be no match for us. We'll swallow them up like the grave." ["Sheol" is the grave or the place of the dead (Ps. 55:15). Is this swallowing up an allusion to Korah and his company?] The description of the intended victims as easy has the effect of defusing the very real danger of such behavior.
Verse 13 continues with more enticements the group uses to bait to the son. "We will find all kinds of precious wealth. We willfill our houses with spoil."
Satan will try to make sin seem beneficial and attractive, the way to quick and easy wealth. But how can wealth be precious when it is the fruit of robbery? How tragic that a group of people would actually find enjoyment in doing evil. How foolish of them to think that loot would satisfy their desires.
Another powerful peer group invitation is given in verse 14. "Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,"
Part of their offer is companionship, comradery, adrenalin rushes, the breaking away of the bonds of consciousness and legal restraints - freedom. But was it really total freedom or was it licentiousness. The offer they made sounds exciting but it only leads to disaster.
The first invitation is simply come along, but now the demand rises -"cast your lot with us. Many a deluded young man is hurried on by the influence of bad company to depths of sin and its consequence that he never contemplated.
Friendship sealed by bonding in sin will not last long. Moreover, it is not worth having. It does not even deserve the name. Friends glued together by the slime of their lust will soon be torn asunder and often will bite and devour one another. [Studies in Proverbs. William Arnot. Kregel. Grand Rapids. 1978. p 40]
III. WISDOM'S COUNSEL, (15-19).
When we go along with the crowd and refuse to listen to the truth, our own appetites will become our masters and we will do what ever is necessary to satisfy them. Sin, no matter how attractive is deadly. So in verse 15 the wise father appeals to his son to make right choices which means steering clear of people who want to entice us into activities we know are wrong. "My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path,"
The caring father tells his son how to avoid temptation. First he says, check carefully the path you're on and don't walk with the wrong crowd (2 Cor. 6:14-18). If you're walking with the wrong crowd, you'll end up doing the wrong things. Do not trust in good resolutions or principles. Trust in Christ and His way and refrain from evil companionship (1 Cor. 15:33).
Verse 16 tell us where those who want quick gain or success are headed. "for their feet run to evil, and they hasten to shed blood." The way of sin is down hill. Once blood is shed it can not be undone, it is an irreversible deed and its effects are almost so.
The teacher will often use illustrations from nature as he does in verse 17. "Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net in the sight of any bird;
Birds don't take the bait when they can plainly see the trap, and people ought to be smarter than birds. "Don't be a bird-brain," Solomon says to his son. "Don't get caught in a trap even a bird would flee." Don't play with temptation because temptation always leads to a trap.
The outcome to the initially attractive appeal of the wicked is revealed in verse 18. "but they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives."
Those that lie in wait to shed others blood fall into their own trap. When you don't listen to parents and disobey God by harming others you are also harming yourself. Like Haman who built the scaffold on which to hang Mordecia (Esther 7:9), it becomes the instrument of your death. Or like Judas who betrayed Jesus (Mt. 26: 11-16; 27:3-5), you can no longer live with yourself and seek death.
Solomon warns in verse 19 that you will be harmed in the very process of seeking to harm others. "So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; it takes away the life of its possessors."
Crime does not pay and neither does evil. "Be not deceived. God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap" (Gal. 6:7). You're free to live life the way you want and even to take what you want, but eventually you'll have to pay for it. The price you pay is far higher than the value you gain. You end up sacrificing the permanent for the immediate and that's a bad investment. You sacrifice the good and gain the evil.
[When ace relief pitcher Dennis Eckersley signed a 2-YEAR CONTRACT with the Oakland A's in 1992, the press took notice. As a free agent, Eckersley could have joined other teams for a lot more money. But the A's had given him his first chance in baseball-and his second chance after struggling with alcoholism. Loyalty took precedence over getting top dollar.
Commenting on Eckersley's decision, an ABC sportscaster summed it up this way: "Loyalty? Obligation? Those are the kinds of words that give greed a bad name."
Greed is an insatiable longing for more and more. It can motivate a person to build an enormous empire, often at the expense of others. It entices the rich to get richer and to pay no heed to the poor who are getting poorer.
Jesus doesn't condemn wealth or the making of profit, but He always calls us to make His interests in this world our primary interest. The word greed is not found often in Scripture, but the Bible warns about the danger of living only to accumulate more of this world's goods.
When we see God meeting our needs, the gratitude and faith that grows in our hearts will help us make choices that give greed a bad name. Remember greedy people always lose more than they gain.]
[NEED OR GREED] In his book "Feminine Faces," Clovis Chappel wrote that when the Roman city of Pompeii was being excavated, the body of a woman was found mummified by the volcanic ashes of Mount Vesuvius. Her position told a tragic story. Her feet pointed toward the city gate, but her out stretched arms and fingers were straining for something that lay behind her. The treasure for which she was grasping was a bag of pearls.
Chappel said, "Though death was hot at her heals and life was beckoning to her beyond the city gates, she could not shake off their spell... But it was not the eruption of Vesuvius that made her love pearls more than life. It only froze her in this attitude of greed,"
Pearls, property, power - anything can fuel the flames of excessive desire. But if not checked, greed destroys us in the end. Remember, if you're not satisfied with what you have, you will not be satisfied with what you want. [The wealthy landowners in Isaiah's day acquired more and more houses and fields until thy had a monopoly (5:8). But God said that their houses would become desolate and their lands would not produce (vv. 9, 10).]
Going after "ill-gotten gain" is one of Satan's surest traps. It begins when he plants the suggestion that we can't live without some possession or more money. Then that desire fans its own fire until it becomes a consuming obsession.
Lord, flash on the warning light of conscience when a good desire becomes excessive, whether it be for food, for things, or for power. Help me to be thankful always, lest I become foolish and want more than I need. Let me not be dazzled by the appeal of easy or quick wealth. Give me wisdom to recognize any greedy desire long before it destroys me. And Lord, please help me overcome any greed already lodged in my soul.
In CONCLUSION
Sin is enticing because it offers a quick route to prosperity and makes us feel like one of the crowd. But when we go along with others and refuse to listen to truth, our appetites become our masters and we will do anything to satisfy them. Sin, even when attractive, is deadly. We must learn to make choices, not on the basis of flashy appeal or short-range pleasure, but in view of the long-range effects. Sometimes this means steering clear of people who want to entice us into activities that we know are wrong. We can't be friendly with sin and not be enticed by it.
The enticement is to reject the eternal treasures of wisdom for the trinkets of this world. Those who succumb loss their souls in the bargain. [Warren Wiersbe. 25]
You cannot win this battle against temptation in your own strength. Unless Christ dwells in your heart by faith the enemy will return again and again until he triumphs.
Remember if sinners entice you, consent not!
