1000th post - Proverbs 1:10-14 says,...

 Happy 1000th post today!!!

Today's verses are Proverbs 1:10-14, which read, 

v.10 - My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

What is the first thing mentioned in the book of Proverbs from the father and mother who are giving instruction and teaching for their children?  What is the first caveat of wisdom to those who are loved by others intensely?  Sinners will entice you to sin.  Those who live a life of sin will endeavor to persuad you to do what they are doing and saying what they are saying.  They will try to get you to walk down the broad road that leads to destruction with them.  The simple 3 word bit of wisdom is "do not consent."  Do not fall for their persuasion.  Do not agree with them that sin is not sin that God has said is sin. 

v.11-14 - If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause; let us swallow them alive like Sheol, even whole, as those who go down to the pit; we will find all kinds of precious wealth, we will fill our houses with spoil; throw in your lot with us, we shall all have one purse,..."

This is what they are saying and tomorrow we will look at what is really is.  What they are saying is that it is okay to take advantage of others if it brings you a gain.  Also, if we do this together then we will get more gain because of our numbers.  Think through the logic here.  I am going to follow after a group who is taking advantage of others and trust them to give me my share of the purse while not taking advantage of me?

Somehow it has become all right to take advantage of others as long as it brings you gain.  You can lie in wait looking for the opportunity to take them down and receive something precious that will enhance your life.  There is a thrill in sinning.  There is a gain of sorts in making your way to be king of the hill.  The world of sin has set up values and rewards that many have bought into.  They go directly against the words of Christ and His way to live.  Many times it is the Christ followers who are the innocent being taken advantage of.  Many times it is also those who the world has deemed as not really others yet so we can harvest what we can from them to make a profit for ourselves.

Our history of slavery falls into this category.  Our history of abortion cries of this world of sin principle.  The history of sex trafficking and terrorism devalues others to a point of taking advantage of them to have a gain for oneself.

Remember that Christ put great worth on those who society put little value.  Christ stopped and blessed the children. Christ touched the untouchables.  Christ spoke to the women of salvation.  Christ reached out to non-Jewish people with the words of life and miracles of evidence of who He was.  Christ took a different path, His path, that put value on others and any advantage was gained by acknowledging them rather than taking from them.  My question today is who are you taking advantage of for your benefit that does not have any return to them?  

They could be the "butt" of your jokes.  They could be someone who should know better but because they don't it is okay to take advantage of them, "you snooze, you lose."  "Finders keepers, losers weepers" is what you say when you find out that it truly was the possession of another.  You have fallen for their trap. You are traveling down the road with them.  You have taken the values of the world of sin and placed them over the values of Christ.  I am sure that mom and dad are going to have something to say about this tomorrow.  Let's pray. 

"Lord, someone has to be straight with us when we are doing something that is against what You teach us to be.  Someone has to paint the picture to see the logic that we are following.  Convict us if we are taking advantage of others to pump ourselves up with some worldly value.  Show us those who are being ambushed and be the friend You would be to them.  Amen."

Pastor Adam