Proverbs 1:10 “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”
Enticement is a subtle tool used persistently by the enemy to draw us away from paths of godliness to ungodliness. The word entice means “to make room for.” When we fail to let God take up full residency by occupying all the room in our hearts and lives, there is space for the enemy. We must avoid enticement by following two simple admonitions from the book of Proverbs.
Learn to recognize enticement. Do you recognize when you are being solicited to do evil? We are warned about the nature of those who will seek to entice us in Proverbs chapter one as a few obvious traits are brought to light. Plurality, unity, violence, hatred, and greed identify those who will entice you to do wrong. They are usually controlled by anger and hatred, possessing a ‘give me something for nothing’ attitude. Recognize the character of people like this who will seek to entice you. Their subtle behaviors may even characterize your life. If so, you have made room for the enemy. Do not be enticed, “neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27.)
Know how to respond to enticement. How do you respond when someone wants you to do evil? Verse 10 instructs us in the right response to enticement: “Consent thou not!” Shaping our will is a key part in developing the ability to say ‘NO’ to enticement. But you cannot resist the enticement to do evil until you submit to the only One who can keep you from evil. Your Christian life can be turned from drudgery to delight when you have a consuming love for your heavenly Father and obey Him joyfully. Decide to go wherever God leads, and you will be better able not to go with them anywhere. Also do not go the places where they go with or without them. “Walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path” (Proverbs 1:15.)
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