gangsProverbs 1:10-19 contains a series of instructions from Solomon to his son concerning temptations outside the home.  Our focus for today’s devotional will be Proverbs 1:10-14.

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the 1st century church in Corinth, wrote: Be not deceived: evil communications [companions] corrupt good manners [morals; character] (1 Corinthians 15:33).  Solomon expressed that same concern when he admonished his son in Proverbs 1:10.

Proverbs 1:10 – “My son, if sinners entice [tempt; allure] thee, consent thou not [do not be willing].”

Who are these sinners of whom Solomon was concern?  Most likely they were peers of his son; perhaps sons of noblemen who served in his father’s court, or friends of his childhood.

Some parents and grandparents foolishly observe, “Well, a boy is going to sow his trapwild oats!”  The reality is that many young men “sow their wild oats” and spend the rest of their lives paying the consequences of youthful sins.

There are rare exceptions to foolish, youthful indiscretions and numbered among them are some of the greatest men of the Scriptures.  As a young man, Joseph faced the daily lure of Potiphar’s wife when he was a slave in Egypt (Genesis 39:7-12); however, he refused to disobey God or offend his master.  Daniel was young teenager when he faced the temptation to eat forbidden meat from the king’s table in Babylon (Daniel 1:8) and God honored him for his faithfulness.

Solomon points out the foolishness of the foolish in Proverbs 1:11-14 .

Proverbs 1:11-14 – “If they [sinners] say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood [to shed blood; thirst for violence], let us lurk privily [lie in ambush] for the innocent without cause [unprovoked]: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and gang crimeswhole [completely], as those that go down into the pit [dead]: 13 We shall find all precious substance, [prospering at the expense of others] we shall fill our houses with spoil [the wicked take what belongs to others]: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse [like a gang]:

Don’t consent to the temptations of sinners!  They are insensitive to the innocent; they entrap the naive; they rob, steal and pillage; and care only for themselves!

How different our inner cities, public schools and neighborhoods would be if parents taught their children these simple truths!

Copyright 2015 – Travis D. Smith