Refrain from Running to Practice Evil - Proverbs 1:11-19

Here we have an extreme example of a sinner, who will entice others to evil. Even though the example given is extreme, the motivation is all too common among sinners. Notice greed and the promise of great substance lies behind the evil doers. Just consider all those, this past year, who looted and stole during the riots. Notice how hasty they were to get into sin and practice their trade. We may think that could never happen to me. I would never loot or steal. But notice those who looted didn't just wake up and start looting. There was a pattern of sin that led up to the "great sin" (however we define great sin). Never run to sin, no matter how small you consider the sin. Those who get comfortable with lying or gossip, for example, are setting themselves up to get comfortable with greater sin. And when we get comfortable associating and fellowshipping with unrepentant sinners, then we will become more comfortable practicing their lifestyle.

We need to take Dr. Solomon's prescription given in Proverbs 1:15 - My Son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path. The sinner is hasty to get into sin. Therefore, we should not desire to share their path since it leads to destruction. We need to know the boundaries of the narrow path and stay securely between them. When it comes to the path of the foolish, it doesn't start with some "great sin". The path of the foolish started back in Proverbs 1:8, when they refused to hear the instruction of their parents.