Proverbs 1: 8-19

Proverbs 1: 8-19 (broken into sections)
Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul; let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down in to the pit; we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse"- my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush to sin, they are swift to shed blood. How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds! These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only on themselves! Such is the end to all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it. (NIV)

First, I will comment on the first short section. It seems that these verses state that your father's instruction and mother's teaching simply make you look better, with all the garland and adornment and such. However, as I think about it. Any reference to garland on one's head and chains on necks that I have ever seen in movies and other stories usually is to honor the person wearing these items. So it seems then that those who listen and learn from their father and mother, achieve honor. Furthermore, since the garland and chain are not physically present, it would seem that this honor is not achieved for the sake of impressing man but to achieve honor in the sight of God.

The second section seems pretty brutal. I can not remember the last time that someone approached me to lie in wait for blood. However, it is often that sinners entice me. Every time I turn on the TV or check my e-mail, there are suggestions that I engage in sins (Thankfully most of my friends do not engage in these activities). Those who would entice me say that it is ok and that it will make me a better person and increase my wealth or status. It is clear in the above verses that those who seek ill-gotten gains and rush to sin are only hurting themselves. I could testify to the validity of this warning. It seems that every time I find myself sinning, life begins to get a little harder. Perhaps not even in the same areas of life, but in life in general. It is sometimes difficult to put these pieces together and understand that by allowing sin into your life, it allows Satan to begin to have more power and gives less power to God. This can only lead to more trouble.

Please share your comments and experiences.