Proverbs 4:14–15

The wicked have their "path," as the four earlier verses show. This figure of speech is a familiar one: life is compared to a way. Living our lives is, therefore, like walking a path. The path of the wicked is the order of life that the wicked live. Avoid it at all cost. As the nineteenth verse shows, it leads into the darkness of night, where stumbling is certain sooner or later.

We are warned just as clearly about the opposite way — the way where a person turns away from God and wanders anywhere else. "Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on." How urgent and insistent the voice of divine goodness and love! And it is none too loud, but greatly needed, for the calls, ties, and snares are many and of every kind. But the word is unmistakably plain and pointed.

The children are also warned not to enter into the path of the wicked. Some people tell us that as long as we do not indulge in wickedness ourselves, there is no harm in being friends with wicked people. But this is bad reasoning. Making friends with wicked people will not change them. It will harm the believer instead. Contact with them will almost always drag him down.

Her bird was a very fine singer, and one day she hung his cage in one of the trees of the garden. She did this for many days. Then she noticed that he barely sang any more. He only chirped, something like a sparrow. He had been keeping company with the sparrows in the garden, and by listening to their tuneless chirp and copying it, he had lost his lovely song. Did the lady ever see sparrows on the branches singing like canaries? You may be sure not.

If you do not want to be overcome by temptation, run from the situations that lead to sin. They have great power to stir up wrong desire inside you. Anyone who wants to stay free from infection will not go near an infected house. The Nazarite, who was forbidden wine, was not allowed to eat grapes either, since grapes might lead him to drink too much. Do not go near the edge of temptation. Many pray, "Lead us not into temptation," and yet run themselves into temptation.

No less wise is the advice given to nip the inclination in the bud. "Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly." Resist the beginnings; do not be caught by the attractive look. "Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on." "The wine of violence" is not the only danger, but the bright and the agreeable also.

Wickedness is deceitful! We easily grow hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. We need to walk carefully, not as fools, but as wise — wise about what is good. A restrained heart that walks in the fear of God is lowly, for lowliness is the opposite of pride. Such a heart is guided in its judgment. It sees God's way in the confusing crowd of people and circumstances. It has its own way, and it only has to follow that way. But it depends on God for it.

The wicked have their "path", as the four earlier verses show. This figure of speech is a familiar one: life is like a road. Living our lives is therefore like walking a path. The path of the wicked is the order of life that the wicked live. Avoid it at all cost. As the nineteenth verse shows, it leads into the darkness of night, where stumbling is certain sooner or later.

"Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on." How urgent and insistent the voice of divine goodness and love! It is none too loud, but very much needed, for the calls, ties and snares are many and varied. But the word is unmistakably plain and pointed.

The children are also warned not to enter into the path of the wicked. Some people tell us there is no harm in being friends with wicked people, as long as we do not join in the wickedness ourselves. But this is bad reasoning. Making friends with the ungodly will not change them. It harms the believer instead, for their company will almost always drag him down. Let the believer totally avoid their path.

Some think they may go at least a little way with such people, because they feel strong enough to resist great temptation. But this attitude itself is fatal. Such a person has already slipped, and will soon find himself completely weak.

A wealthy man on one occasion wanted to hire a driver to drive him along a very narrow road bordered by a steep drop-off. He asked each applicant how close he could come to the edge of the road without going over. Several drivers said how close they thought they could come. One answered that he would keep as far as he could from the edge. That man got the job. We too, who know the Lord, should have sense enough to remove our foot far from the temptation of evil. The least giving in to temptation will almost always lead to further yielding.

Resist the beginnings; do not be caught by the attractive look. "Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on." "The wine of violence" is not the only danger; the bright and pleasant is a danger too.

Evil thoughts may come into your soul, unsought and hated. Do not break off your occupation with the Lord to confess them. If your will goes with them, confess them. If not, pass them by as you would avoid an evil person — someone who is not you, who you know will never change, and whose company brings only misery and defilement. "Avoid them; do not go near them," but leave them there.

"I will teach you in the way of wisdom, I will lead you in the paths of uprightness." This happy result is sure for those who believe it comes from Him, and who do not doubt His interest in His people and their blessing. "When you go, your steps shall not be hindered; and when you run, you shall not stumble." Still, it calls for earnestness of purpose and faithfulness of heart. "Take fast hold of instruction, let her not go; keep her, for she is your life."