June 04, 2017 | Tom Dunham
Passage: Proverbs 1:10-19
Say NO! to the Carrot!
My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. Proverbs 1:10
Brief review: #OWP! … LATGISOYS! … BLING! …
Note: the first 3 exhortations of Solomon have to do with relationships!
- With God … … … with your parents … … … and today:
- With your peers – particularly ‘bad’ peers …
Sin is attractive at the time, but later it yields pain as the ‘bills’ come due.
- … the passing pleasures of sin. Hebrews 11:25
- You can make your own choices, but you can’t choose the consequences! …
There is also an attraction in the ‘pack’ mentality. But we should choose our friends carefully:
- The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray. Proverbs 12:26
- …”Evil company corrupts good habits.” I Corinthians 15:33
So, say NO! to the ‘pack’! … … …
At the heart, Proverbs 1:10-19 is an invitation to a business partnership.
- The key is ‘one purse’ … don’t mix your money with theirs …
- Same principle – II Cor. 6:14,15 …
Þ Business … marriage … any partnership: say NO! to it …
Say NO! to the ‘carrot’!
- The ‘carrot’ is an enticement to do something wrong/stupid …
- Proverbs 1:15-18 …
- They lay their own traps …
Lastly, the death sentence of greed:
- ... It takes away the life of its owners. Proverbs 1:19
- Greed is a cancer of the soul …
- Note: wealth does not = greed, nor does poverty = ‘anti-greed’ …
- Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation & a snare, & into many … lusts which drown men … I Timothy 6:9 …
- Ct.: The generous soul will be made rich … Proverbs 11:25
- Do not overwork to be rich. … Proverbs 23:4 … … …
We always pay dearly for chasing after what is cheap. A. Solzhenitsyn
#OWP!