¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. ¹¹ If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; ¹² Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to the Pit; ¹³ We shall find all kinds of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil; ¹⁴ Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse” ¹⁵ My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path; ¹⁶ For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood. [Proverbs 1:10-16]

Solomon is given credit as being the wisest man to have ever lived. When given the opportunity to possess riches or wisdom, he chose wisdom. The book of Proverbs is a glimpse into this God-given understanding of the human race. Profound, yet simple. Funny, yet accurate. Convicting, yet truthful. In the very first chapter, Solomon gives the reader what could be the best word we could ever read in v.10, “if sinners entice you, Do not consent”. Solomon goes on to describe what kinds of activity, by citing specific examples, sinners will involve themselves and others in. This reference to “sinners” speaks to those who are opposed to God and have no desire to follow or long after Him. When a person is not led by God, there natural tendency is as Solomon wrote in v.16 saying “their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.” The old adage that “misery loves company” is applicable here.

We must be careful who influences us. It is up to us to ensure that only those who are being led by God and are listening to Him are having an influence upon our lives. In a world full of voices shouting advice, suggestion, and counsel, who are you listening to? Are you as a believer being a source of sound counsel for someone else?