Proverbs 1:10-12 (ESV)
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;
let us ambush the innocent without reason;
12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
The son is advised to reject the way of those who violate God’s standard for human behavior. Even in the ancient days of Solomon, sinners sought to persuade others to follow along with them as they preyed upon the innocent. They might go so far as to wait for an unsuspecting victim and kill him to amuse themselves. Such people were motivated by the forces of Hell and in league with death itself. So why do “sinners love company”? Why do such men want others to join them in the darkness? When those who live in disobedience recruit others to do the same, they feel less responsible for their own transgressions and can say, “Everyone’s doing it. It’s not just me.” Though the “cool” group may exclude us, let’s listen to our Father’s wise warning and say “no” to those who pressure us to compromise what we know is right. What can you do to graciously let others know you are more concerned with God’s opinion than theirs?