Do not allow others to entice you

Proverbs 1:10-14 (NLT)
10 My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them! 11 They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent! 12 Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave; let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.13 Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.14 Come, throw in your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot.”

This proverb is the advice of a father to his child to acquire wisdom and stay away from those who might lead them away from wise action. We see the follies of those ignoring wisdom. They look for those they may attack and kill just for the pleasure of taking their riches.


The following is a true story from Dave Jackson written in Leadership magazine. "Our train rolled into Kansas City at 1 a.m. Dim lights came on to help the new passengers find seats. Many of us who had been riding home through the night had spread out to occupy two seats apiece. An attractive woman made her way down the aisle with her bags. She was looking from side to side, hoping for someone to move. I turned toward the window and watched her in the reflection. ‘May I sit here?’ she asked. ‘Sure.’ I looked up and smiled as I moved over. She threw her things into the rack above and sat down. Near the back of the car, only one of my colleagues from the church had managed to keep his extra space. ‘Lucky guy’. ‘My name's Kathy. What's yours?’ I told her, and we talked quietly for a while. She was on her way to visit her mother after some rough spats with her husband. I was eager to get home and see my wife and family after an exhausting church leadership conference. Soon we both slipped off to sleep. At some later stop, I awoke to find Kathy cuddled next to me. 'You don't mind if I lean my head on your shoulder, do you?' she said sleepily. ‘Uh, no. I guess not.' She was just tired... wasn't she? And besides, I had a wonderful wife and a great marriage and would be home before noon. I looked around to see if anyone was noticing. She cuddled closer. I wondered what she really wanted‑‑or would allow. At first I couldn't believe what I was thinking. But then it was her fault. She knew exactly what she was doing. I might as well enjoy it. After all, what could happen on a train full of people? Nothing, nothing really... except what Jesus warned about happening in the heart. Finally, I excused myself so I could go back and talk with my friend‑‑the ‘lucky’ one with the empty seat beside him. Or maybe I was the lucky one since that extra space was still available. I only knew I didn't need to stay where I had been.

We need to watch the circumstances we fall into and beware of those who might lead us into the temptation of sin. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.