Acquire Wisdom Part 2-Proverbs 1:14-19
A Father’s Exhortation: Acquire Wisdom Part 2
We are continuing with Proverbs 1, which is a father encouraging his son to obtain wisdom and how to stay on the right path. But these scriptures are also very relevant to us as we are encouraged by the Lord to always seek wisdom.
Let’s review what we covered in part 1.
Proverbs 1:8-13
8 My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. 9 What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck. 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.
Here are a few key points from these scriptures.
- Even as adults we should honor our parents
- Rebellion against authority starts in the home and will continue in this pattern
- That we shouldn’t succumb to peer pressure
- Just because everyone is doing it doesn’t mean its right – what does the word of God say
- Not to copy the behaviors of the world but change the way we think
- Revenge is never a good thing
- Pride is the root cause of any conflict
Proverbs 1:14-19 Come, throw in your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot. My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths. They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit murder. If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away. But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed. Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.
PROVERBS 1:14 COME, THROW IN YOUR LOT WITH US; WE’LL ALL SHARE THE LOOT.
This passage continues to encourage people to make their own decisions. Not to get caught up in the lies and schemes of people who will use them and then stab them in the back when all hell breaks loose.
Psalm 1:1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
PROVERBS 1:15 MY CHILD, DON’T GO ALONG WITH THEM! STAY FAR AWAY FROM THEIR PATHS.
The reason who would go along with someone like this is because you see something in it for yourself. As we saw in Psalms 1:1, it is best if we try to avoid these types of temptations or to walk that trail. Remember, everything that is of this world is temporary, it is short-lived and will bring eternal rejection from God almighty. Just because the entire world is doing something doesn’t make it right…
Ok, single gals along those lines, I have a question for you. Is that guy really worth a night in the sack versus your relationship with the Lord?
****More about this on the podcast
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
PROVERBS 1:16 THEY RUSH TO COMMIT EVIL DEEDS. THEY HURRY TO COMMIT MURDER.
There are only two ways to live. You are either living for God or against God. You are either walking with the Lord or you are walking with the enemy. When you are entangled with people of the world, they don’t think about what they are doing. They do things out of pride and for selfish reasons. They won’t even think twice about taking someone else’s life if it will benefit them. Be careful because when you are no longer an asset to them you may become their next target.
Romans 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
PROVERBS 1:17 IF A BIRD SEES A TRAP BEING SET, IT KNOWS TO STAY AWAY.
Look even an animal will sense when they are in danger or will avoid a trap if they see it ahead of time. You must know that we are in a spiritual world and you need to be aware of the traps the enemy will set to trip you up. Don’t fall for the lies of the stupid devil or from the people he uses.
Ephesians 6:12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
PROVERBS 1:18 BUT THESE PEOPLE SET AN AMBUSH FOR THEMSELVES; THEY ARE TRYING TO GET THEMSELVES KILLED.
People will try to put the blame on others or take others down with them. But remember we have the ability and authority to fight against ALL evil. You do not have to succumb to peer pressure or do what everyone else is doing. You have the power and ability to stand firm on what God’s Word says and fight against the flesh.
Luke 10:19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.
PROVERBS 1:19 SUCH IS THE FATE OF ALL WHO ARE GREEDY FOR MONEY; IT ROBS THEM OF LIFE.
Greed, pride, being self-centered, selfish, and desiring to be like everyone else only leads to harm and potentially death. As believers, we have a choice of who we are going to listen to and who we are going to follow. We have a choice if we are going to be popular with the world or serve God. It’s up to us whether we choose life or death.
Deuteronomy 30:19 Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!