Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs – Danger of Evil Friends

PROVERBS 1:19 : So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; Which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

Solomon loved his son and wanted the best for him in his reign and life, so he used a parable about cutthroats to warn his son about the danger of evil friends (Pr 1:10-19). He supplied their enticing words to join them, though showing their wickedness by the wording (Pr 1:10-14). He warned his son to stay away from them, for they would surely get him into trouble (Pr 1:15-16). Finally, he foretold their total destruction (Pr 1:17-19).

Birds are stupid, and so are young men who think they can get away with folly or sin. Though a fowler spreads his net in the sight of a bird, the attractive bait is too appealing; as soon as the fowler is out of sight, the bird will fly into the trap to get the bait. Birds are caught and killed by the net they ignored. Young fools are killed by the certain judgment of God and men, which they have seen happen to others and have heard warnings about.

These rules of certain destruction are true for all folly and sin, both in thought and deed. If you think and live contrary to the wisdom offered in Solomon’s proverbs, you must love death, because it is stalking you at this very moment, as the Bible declares (Pr 1:31; 8:36; 14:14; Job 4:8; I Cor 16:22). Peace, safety, and prosperity of any kind depend on a life of righteousness and wisdom.

The lessons are simple. The first and main lesson of Solomon for his son was to stay far away from fools and wicked persons (Pr 9:6; 13:20; I Cor 15:33). The second lesson is to know that fools and sinners soon meet the fate they planned for others (Pr 26:27; Ps 7:1-17). And last, folly and sin have consequences, so hate both of them (Pr 8:13; Ps 97:10)