Proverbs 1:15 (Mini Sermon)
Submitted by Pastor Chad Wagner on Thursday, January 31, 2019.
15. Pro 1:15 - "My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:" A. Solomon was a wise teacher. i. He first warned his son to not consent when enticed by sinners (Pro 1:10). ii. Then he gave him a detailed example of what the enticement might sound like (Pro 1:11-14). iii. Next, he reiterated his warning to walk not with them and refrain from their path (Pro 1:15). iv. Finally, he told him why to steer clear of such sinners: for their end is destruction (Pro 1:16-19). B. An important lesson can be gleaned from the order in which Solomon instructed his son. i. It is essential to do what God commands us before we endeavor to understand why He commanded it. ii. Once we do what God commands, then we can seek to know the Lord's reason for issuing the instruction. a. For example: it's not necessary for a Christian to understand exactly why God commands him to not fornicate (1Co 6:18), before he decides to keep himself from premarital or extramarital sex. b. After he has done what God said, he then is free to philosophize about why God may have given that precept. iii. Children of God too often act like the children of parents who question the reason for their father's command before consenting to do it. a. God doesn't put up with that type of rebellion and neither should parents. b. Delayed obedience is disobedience. C. Walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path. i. These bloodthirsty communists (Pro 1:11,14) are so dangerous that a man dare not even walk with them, nor put his foot on their path. ii. Solomon later warned his son to not so much as get near the wicked, but to turn from them and pass away (Pro 4:14-17). iii. "To keep from falling over the edge of the precipice, one should move as far back from that edge as possible." (Jay Adams, Competent to Counsel, p. 134) iv. Be very careful who you follow, for there are many that walk the broad way that leadeth to destruction (Mat 7:13-14). v. Following the wrong crowd could cost you your money (Pro 28:19), your wellbeing (Pro 16:29; Mat 15:14), or even your life (Isa 9:16).
