Let’s begin. The first thing Proverbs, chapter one, verse eight says is, “Listen, my son.” This verse speaks directly to us about the importance of wisdom and the dangers of enticement. The world is full of things trying to lure us away from how God designed everything, trying to pull us from His path and the good life He intends for us.
The Danger of Enticement
Consider this: a man who lived under communism once said that communism is the greatest enticement and temptation to a man. It offers a life that doesn’t require you to produce, promising equal outcomes instead of equal opportunities. America was founded on the principle of equal opportunities to succeed, but other nations, like communist ones, focus on equal outcomes. The problem with that is it removes God from the equation because it’s not how He designed things. Over the past 100 years, 100 million people were murdered under communist regimes—clearly showing that enticement leads to death.
Temptation and Its Consequences
James, the brother of Jesus, talks about enticement in his book. Let’s look at James, chapter one. He says when tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. Instead, each person is tempted by their own evil desires, being dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full-grown, it gives birth to death. This is serious stuff.
Prayer for Deliverance
When Jesus teaches us how to pray in Matthew 6, He mentions temptation. Even though God does not tempt us, He can lead us to a place where we face temptation to strengthen us, or allow our faith to be tested. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. So, we pray, “Father, please don’t lead us into temptation,” knowing that God uses these experiences to build our faith.
The Importance of Parental Instruction
Back to Proverbs, chapter one, verse eight: “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” How important is that? God brought us into this world, and He can take us out. He commands us to honor our parents so we may have a long life. It’s amazing how the enemy tries to divide families, but God designed parents to impart wisdom.
Wisdom Versus Enticement
The enemy entices us not to listen to our parents. It’s our sin nature that says, “What do they know?” Between the ages of three and seven, children think their parents are so smart and know everything. However, when children become teenagers, they often think these very same parents do not have a clue about anything. Later in life, after the frontal lobes of their brains develop around the age of twenty-five, they start to realize how wise their parents were all along. They realize how God has gifted them with parents.
Wisdom is the proper application of knowledge. One man, who graduated at the top of his class, credited his success to his parents—a janitor and a homemaker—because they gave him wisdom. How could this scholarly, highly educated son honor his parents and credit them during his graduation? Because he knew that wisdom is the greatest thing, even after all of his university studies. His parents raised him with the wisdom that God gives every God loving, children loving parent has.
The Garland and the Chain
Proverbs 1:9 says, “Your parents’ teachings are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.” Listening to your parents’ teachings not only benefits you but also becomes visible to others. It’s like wearing a chain that others can see, reflecting the wisdom and instruction you’ve received, as well as a garland that covers your mind. It’s like your father’s voice is always right there with you, speaking into your life, and on many occasions, your mother’s voice as well. I guess you could say, ‘My parents are always right there on the front of my mind.’ What is interesting about comparing it to a necklace is that we wear necklaces for others to see, not for ourselves. Yes, we see it when we put it on, but for the rest of the time, “we know it’s there,” but others see it in our lives. It’s not hidden; it’s right out there for everyone to see.
Like Father, Like Son
I’ve always enjoyed looking down the generations in my community, observing the faces of people to see if I can tell who their parents are. It’s striking how one can see their parents in their faces, actions, and mannerisms. Often, the adult child doesn’t have a clue that they are just their parent in so many ways, often very good ways if their parents loved them and were wise.
Watch Out for Enticers
Proverbs warns us to watch out for enticers. It’s not just criminals; sometimes it’s governments. Enticements can come in the form of entitlements, luring people to vote for certain leaders. Governments and politicians often use enticements to lure people away from God’s path. They promise benefits, financial aid, or other incentives in exchange for votes. This can lead to people compromising their values and beliefs for material gain. For instance, a government might offer financial support to single mothers but only if the father is absent from the home, promoting family breakdowns. Enticing mothers to live God’s path for having both parents raising their children, a father and a mother. Many people surrender their faith and family for financial enticements, but these lead to destruction.
The End of Ill-Gotten Gain
Proverbs 1:10-19 warns against joining those who entice you to sin. They may promise riches and benefits, but their path leads to destruction. These people lie in wait for their own blood, and in the end, they only harm themselves. Ill-gotten gain takes away the lives of those who get it.