Friends

(Part 2)

by Micky Galloway

(Part 1 was published in I PRESS, January 15, 2023.)

Proverbs 13:20 says, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed” (NKJV). Proverbs 1:10 says, “My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not.” Righteousness is the characteristic that resists the attraction of sin. No matter how desirable an evil person or thing might be, the righteous character will not give in. He will hold to the principles of righteousness regardless.

Sinners are not content sinning and being lost alone. They want to include others in their wickedness. Bringing the innocent into their sinful activities and friendship somehow helps to justify their evil minds and practices. The devil certainly uses them to corrupt God’s saints. The context describes those who are practicing sinful things luring an innocent young man (or woman) into their group (Proverbs 1:11-14). They offer him friendship, unity, success, and riches. The wise man warns his son to stay away from them, for they are wicked and headed for destruction (Proverbs 1:15-19).

Strong men will not agree with sinners in any way, for any reason! They are committed to what is right, and the folly of fools is unacceptable on every level. They hate the works of the wicked. Psalms 101:3, “I will set no base thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave unto me.” Psalms 139:21-22, “Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: they are become mine enemies.”

How do sinners entice, seduce, attract, or lure those who are saints? There are several ways, and they provide wonderful lessons for increasing in wisdom and understanding.

First, there is family. Woe to those who exalt family over Scripture, for they will compromise righteousness to save it. Jesus taught His disciples, “If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). His doctrine divides families to test our love of Him. “Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law: and a man’s foes (shall be) they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:34-37). If we will not forsake family for Jesus Christ and the truth, we are not worthy of Him.

Second, there is fear of man. If we worry about what others think or do, we trap our own souls. “The fear of man bringeth a snare; But whoso putteth his trust in Jehovah shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25). We will compromise Scripture to keep them happy. We call it peer pressure when it involves children; but we say little, when it involves adults. Why not say, “So that with good courage we say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear: What shall man do unto me?” (Hebrews 13:6). Peter, noble and brave in his intentions, compromised horribly before mere maids! Three times he denied even knowing Jesus. The third time Peter cursed and swore saying, “I know not the man” (Matthew 26:74). Pilate, warned by his wife and convicted by his own heart, could not release Jesus before the Jews (cf. Matthew 27:19). Instead, he caved to the multitude and, “washed his hands … saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; see ye (to it)” (Matthew 27:24).

Third, there is association. Some are so desperate for the approval of society; they will do anything. They need acceptance and support to survive. Believers among the Jews would not confess Jesus for fear of being put out of the synagogue. “For they loved the glory (that is) of men more than the glory (that is) of God” (John 12:42-43). God condemns this compromising association with sinners (cf. Isaiah 8:9; II Chronicles 19:1-2)! He is looking for men who will stand against the crowd like Joshua and Caleb (cf. Numbers 26:65)! Likewise, Ezekiel records, “And I sought for a man among them, that should build up the wall, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none” (Ezekiel 22:30).

Fourth, the offer of success is enticing. The young man was told he could fill his house with treasure, if he were to join the gang. Proverbs 1:13, “We shall find all precious substance; We shall fill our houses with spoil.” How many men have sacrificed their convictions to get ahead in their profession? It took only thirty pieces of silver to persuade Judas to betray the Lord Jesus (Matthew 26:15). The world’s enticements are always reduced to three kinds of sin: (1) the lust of the flesh, (2) the lust of the eyes, and (3) the pride of life (I John 2:15-17). Satan used these three enticements on Eve (Genesis 3:6) and he tried them on Jesus, but He resisted them. Jesus was enticed by the devil three times (Luke 4:1-13), yet He resisted every temptation with, “It is written”! Are you able to identify these offerings by sinners and detect your weakness for them?

Churches today offer a lot of crowd pleasing “things.” They boast of their numbers and many “programs” and “activities” to satisfy the desires of every age and sex. They make great efforts to entice you to join them. Do not consent!

Will you stand on the teaching of God’s word regardless of who might entice you or what might be offered? Do you know your own weaknesses? Examine yourself, and remove any temptations far away!

Wisdom demands you be careful who your friends are! Know when to “walk away.” “My son, walk not thou in the way with them; Refrain thy foot from their path” (Proverbs 1:15)! David would not tolerate the evil doer. “He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: He that speaketh falsehood shall not be established before mine eyes” (Psalms 101:7). Are you ready and willing to stand against the enticements of the wicked, even if it means standing alone?