Proverbs 1:10 (Mini Sermon)
Submitted by Pastor Chad Wagner on Thursday, January 24, 2019.
10. Pro 1:10 - "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." A. Having exhorted his son of the importance and benefits of getting wisdom for the first nine verses, Solomon begins a warning to his son of potential danger that lies ahead. B. Children are born into this world with a depraved heart (Psa 58:3; Gen 8:21). i. If that wasn't bad enough, they also have ungodly friends who try to entice them to do evil. ii. Entice v. - 1. trans. To stir up, incite, instigate (to a course of action); also to provoke (to anger). C. My experience with children has taught me that they generally fall into three categories. i. The instigators a. There are usually one or more these children in every group. b. They are the trouble-makers. c. They are not necessarily bad kids (although sometimes they are), but they need constant supervision and restraint. d. They instigate other children (the instigated) who normally would behave themselves if they were not incited to foolishness by the instigators. e. To maintain order, the instigators must be identified and publicly reprimanded (or punished if necessary) so that the other instigators and the instigated will see and fear (1Ti 5:20; Pro 19:25; Pro 21:11). f. These children make managing children a challenge. ii. The instigated a. There are usually between a handful to a small majority of these children in every group. b. If the instigators are not reigned in early, the ranks of the instigated will grow as the more timid children (potential instigateds) are emboldened to join in the folly. c. The instigated children behave well in the absence of an instigator. d. Trouble-making doesn't come as naturally to them. e. If they or one of their fellows are punished, they quickly calm down and remain that way for a while. iii. The unaffected a. There are usually between a handful to a large minority of these children in every group. b. They are unaffected by the actions of the instigators and the instigated. c. They sit quietly and mind their own business no matter how much chaos is going on around them. d. These children make managing children a breeze. iv. The instigated are the children and young adults that particularly need to heed the warning of (Pro 1:10). v. Raising children on an uninhabited island would be much easier, but that's not the world we live in. D. Peer pressure is a powerful influence for children and adults alike. i. This is why God warned Israel to not follow a multitude to do evil (Exo 23:2). ii. King Saul fell into this snare when he listened to the people (1Sa 15:9,20-21) instead of God (1Sa 15:3). iii. Men have a tendency to adopt "herd mentality" and follow the crowd, even when they have no idea where it is headed. iv. This happened with the two hundred men who followed Absalom in his rebellion against David (2Sa 15:11). v. This type of "group think" was responsible for the uprising in Ephesus instigated by Demetrius the silversmith who had ulterior motives (Act 19:23-32). E. Patriots should take note: there is usually a presented reason for a political uprising, and then there is the real reason. i. Christians should be very cautious in getting involved in such demonstrations because it might just be that sinners have enticed them to action only to be used for their own nefarious purposes. ii. Never forget Solomon's warning: "A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good" (Pro 16:29). F. Solomon's warning to his son should teach us another valuable lesson: we don't have to, nor should we, consent to enticement. i. Consent v. - I. To agree together. 1. intr. To agree together, or with another, in opinion or statement; to be of the same mind. II. To agree to a proposal, request, etc. 6. Voluntarily to accede to or acquiesce in what another proposes or desires; to agree, comply, yield. ii. The scripture teaches that "every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed" (Jam 1:14). iii. Enticement is not itself sin, nor is it irresistible. iv. Lust and enticement consented to brings forth sin and death (Jam 1:15; Pro 1:18). v. To prevent this, we must "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness (consent not), but rather reprove them" (Eph 5:11). vi. A companion of fools shall be destroyed (Pro 13:20). vii. Heed the wise words of Solomon, and "Do not err, my beloved brethren" (Jam 1:16).
