PEER PRESSURE

Proverbs 1:10-19

My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul; let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse" -- my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood. How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds! These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves! Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it.

God-fearing parents give sound instruction and good advice to their children and teens. Unfortunately, those same children and teens are hearing unsound instruction and bad advice from their friends, their peers, the classmates and the world in general. The bad advice – the temptation – which Solomon focuses on in these verses is doing whatever it takes – even murder – in the hope of getting rich. As Solomon writes, you can almost hear the voices of peer pressure luring someone who knows better into doing something that is obviously wrong. But the lure of greed is a shiny one. The lure of risk is an enticing one. Aside from the fact that murder and theft are sin, what makes such plans foolish is the fact that nothing is gained. More often than not these schemes fail; the criminals get caught. And, even if they do get away with their crimes, they will never avoid God’s judgment. For those who remain impenitent and continue in such sinful plots, eternity in hell is a huge price to pay for stolen wealth here on earth.

A simple reminder is in place for all of us – whether we are the parents of children and teens or whether we are children and teens or whether we are simply God’s children living in a sinful world – temptation is all around. Satan is still the father of lies. Sinners will always try to make sinful activity sound fun and exciting and alluring – and they often succeed. Christians need the support and encouragement and guidance of each other. We all need the positive peer pressure of the Gospel to assure us of God’s forgiveness in Christ and to help us avoid temptation. May God make us strong to do his will and to support others when they are tempted.

PRAYER: Lord, help me see the joy, the fun and the excitement of following your ways instead of the world’s ways. Amen.