Evil companions (Deer Creek)
Deer Creek Community Study- Proverbs • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsAim: to look at the company we keep, be careful, be wise.
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The company we keep
The company we keep
Q: Do you think the company we keep matters?
33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
(Insert story about bad company, good company)
Previously we have looked at
Purpose of the Proverbs (1:1-6)
Theme of the Proverbs (1:7)
Respect, parental wisdom and respect (1:8-9)
Today we look at our friends, our companions, those we hang out with.
Q: Tell me someone you think is a good source of support, of wisdom that you hang out with?
Consider Pro27:9 “9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad, So a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.”
So, counsel from a friend can be good, but it needs to be the right kind of friend. today we are looking at the wrong kind, the evil companions we may keep.
In our passage today we will see
The warnings about evil companions
The danger of evil companions
And, finally the solution to evil companions
I want to read the passage in context then we can get into these points.
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 cause;
12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; 13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil;
14 Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,” 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path,
16 For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood. 17 Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird;
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors.
Q: Any general observations you make from reading this passage?
Fatherly warnings concerning evil companions
Fatherly warnings concerning evil companions
Good fatherly advise (v.10)
10 My son, if sinners entice you, don’t be persuaded.
Q: What do you think it means to be “enticed” or to “entice?”
(verb): attract or tempt by offering pleasure or advantage.
Q: What is the fatherly advise (v.10)?
Reason for the good fatherly advise (vv.11-12)
11 If they say—“Come with us! Let’s set an ambush and kill someone. Let’s attack some innocent person just for fun! 12 Let’s swallow them alive, like Sheol, still healthy as they go down to the Pit.
The promises given that show the need for good fatherly advise (vv.13-14)
13 We’ll find all kinds of valuable property and fill our houses with plunder. 14 Throw in your lot with us, and we’ll all share our money” —
Q: What is the promise of the evil companions (v.13)?
Q: What is the request from them (v.13)?
Q: Have you had people try to entice you to do wrong things, and gotten good fatherly advise that helped you make the right decision?
(transition): So we see do not consent to their counsel, lets see what more the teacher has to say
Let’s see the advise given
Keep away from them (v.15)
15 My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths. 16 They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit murder.
Q: What is the warning, instruction here, and why?
Their efforts are useless, in vain (v.17)
17 Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird;
Q: What does vain mean?
Vain (Adj): having or showing an excessively high opinion of one's appearance, abilities, or worth. or it also means: producing no result; useless.
Eventually it will cost them their very lives, they ambush their own lives (vv.18-19)
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners.
Q: Look closely at these verses (18-19) who is the subject matter? What are the end results?
(Transition) these are very drastic pictures painted here of murder and robbery, but in the big picture it is applicable for all kinds of evil actions, evil deeds, conduct. It brings up more danger
Danger of Evil Companions
Danger of Evil Companions
Evil companions may not seem evil, they don’t walk up and say “hi i’m evil, want to join me?” They can try to persuade through enticement.
Persuaded/deceived like Eve in the garden (Gen3:1-6)
Q: What does the word persuaded mean?
(v) cause (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument.
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;
3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!
5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
Q: It would not be fair if I don’t ask the question, what did you see, observe in this passage?
Like the serpent tempted Eve, sinful friends will appeal to the same things:
Lust of the flesh “good for food”
Lust of the eyes “Pleasant to the eyes”
Pride of life “Desirable to make one wise”
Gee, sounds like there might be a N.T. parallel to this
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
Evil friends offer easy gain, little effort, big reward such as:
Wealth without work
Pleasure without commitment
Companionship without cost
They ignore the cost of sin
Let this simmer for a minute, if someone is willing to sin with you they may be willing to sin against you.
Evil companions only look out for themselves, if their action has benefits to self.
Know your sin will be found out
23 “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.
Or what it says in N.T.
17 “For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.
It’s easier to tell the truth than to remember a lie.
Sin oftentimes carries physical consequences
Divorce, addictions, loss of family, friends - so be sure to “count the cost.”
(Transition) - Evil companions don’t think about or talk about the consequences they talk about the moment. - So, what’s the solution? Let’s talk about that.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.
Don’t listen, don’t consent!
Know they cannot deliver on what they promise to do, but you know One who can.
21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.
Don’t walk in their counsel
1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
Be wise enough to not heed their enticing words. In other words:
Stay away from them
15 Oh, friend, don’t give them a second look; don’t listen to them for a minute.
Don’t be companions with them
20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.
Q: what is the contrast you can see in Pro13:20?
Be careful who you yoke with, are companion with, especially if a non-believer
14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 17 “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you.
18 “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.
(Transition) Be wise when choosing, or allowing others to be your companions.
Now, please understand I am not saying to not befriend them at all, to not associate with them, to try to save them. We cannot, should not isolate ourselves
9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. 11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
Q: Who is Paul writing too in 1Cor? So think about who are the immoral person, covetous, idolater?
We are to be a friend to sinners to lead them to the Savior. Jesus set the example for us.
19 “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
Ask yourself this question: Do I influence the evil person more than they influence me?
May we close and remember
33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
(Prayer) (Close)