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PROVERBS AND GODLY WISDOM
Lesson Three
The Real Victim of Bad Advice
Text: Proverbs 1:8-19
The purpose of this lesson: To stress the need to run from the voice of evil people who encourage us to do evil.
An age-old problem: no one wishes to listen to his/her parents. This reading is addressed to “my son.” In much of history, young men had an exposure to life and life’s circumstances that was often denied young women. The course of young women was established by marital responsibilities and caring for children and the home. A young lady’s choices were limited from the moment of birth. However, most young men had the freedom to roam, the freedom of exposure, and choices to make.
The purpose of these statements is not to begin a discussion of the different way women were and are treated than are men, but to acknowledge the situation when Proverbs was written. A young man had much more freedom for roaming and being exposed to evil and good situations and circumstances than did most young women.
Doubtlessly, many young women chaffed at the strict restrictions placed on them, and many young men rebelled at the “stupidity” of their parents who failed to realize the “richness” of life’s calls or the “joys” of life’s opportunities. As the young of most ages, they saw only the “upside” of life’s challenges, and never the consequences of following the call of personal desires. The young had not lived long enough to appreciate the value of experience.
Typically in all ages, the young chaff at the restrictions of parents. The young think their views of life, existence, and the world are definitely more advanced and more accurate than those views concerning those things that are held by their parents. The restrictions parents impose are uninformed and simply ignorant.
The section begins with a plea to listen to the father’s instructions and heed the mother’s teachings. That which they most longed for came from what the young regarded as the most unlikely source: their parents’ guidance. Parents understood more about life than the young imagined! It was the parents’ insights that would put a wreath on their heads and jewelry around their necks! The dazzling effect of the victor’s wreath and a neck adorned with coveted jewelry was found in their parents’ words and thoughts, not in experiencing life’s calls.
The plea is for the young to recognize the wisdom of parental guidance. The wisdom of the parental guidance of righteous adults will result in goals the young highly valued. This does not mean all parental perspectives are righteous, or that some parents cannot be a part of the evil voice to be rejected.
“Caution, youth! Look at the persons who seek to appeal to your desires! Are they really concerned about you having a good, fulfilling experience, or are they only concerned about their opportunity to use you? Will you think you are saying “yes” to your desires only to discover (too late) that your naïveté was used to achieve their purpose? Be very careful about those you give consent to!”
We all need to be warned when we are close to being led into harm by our own desires and ambitions. We need to look carefully at those who encourage us to use our desires as the source of our guidance. Trusting youthful desires often produces disaster! Our desires often make us vulnerable to evil.
“They say to you, ‘Come with us and you will have your heart’s desire through preying on those who are too stupid to recognize dangerous circumstances.’ Sure, they have done nothing to us, but they are not even afraid of a possible ambush. Besides, they have plenty—they will only get more! If they are hurt or die, it is their fault!”
Evil promises us the world and gives us the grave. Evil commonly places the blame on anyone but ‘me’ and ‘my desires.’ The voice of the evil commonly encourages a blind selfishness that considers only the person’s desires without regard to the harm the person causes others.
“Think of what you will get! You will be instantly wealthy beyond your dreams! You can buy anything you want! Your house will be full of things you only dream about now!”
If you can control a person’s focus, you control the person’s actions.
“We will take care of you! You can trust us! There is no way we would let you go in need! Besides, there will not be any need. Your days of wanting, needing, and dreaming about having are over.”
Too often we believe what we want to believe. Our desires make us quite susceptible to deceit. The person who has no respect for others will have no respect for us. You destroy the ability to be compassionate when you destroy your ability to respect others. Trust those who are worthy of trust.
An alarmed father warns his son, “Be careful! You are about to make a mistake that will cause you endless regret! Instead of going with them, run from them. Look at what these people do. The evil that sheds blood is a call that they cannot resist. They do stupid things that cannot possibly work, and they seem not to notice or care. As a result, they make themselves the victim—they ambush themselves. They think imposing violence on others is the answer to everything—all their personal ambitions. Any person who turns to violence brings unnecessary hurt to himself. As a result, his own acts of violence will cost him his life.”
The consequences of an evil decision often reach far beyond the moment of mistake. Look at the motives that control the person’s behavior before you let the person form your goals and outlook. Do not become “your own worst enemy.” Do not champion perspectives that disdain the value of honest work.
There are four things that are obvious in the foolish perspective then that are still obvious now.
1. The distrust of experience.
2. There exists a quick way to obtain one’s physical desires.
3. Materialism is the answer to all a person’s physical desires and wants.
4. The key to being successful in material pursuits is violence—using force to take from those whose weakness makes them vulnerable.
Emphasize there is nothing new in such perspectives.
“There is not enough time to allow experience to teach us. Life is too short to allow experience to teach. There is a quicker way to obtain than yielding to experience. Physically having what you want when you want it is the core of existence. Material satisfaction is the only genuine satisfaction in life. To think otherwise is to deceive your self. Take what you want in the quickest way possible. If violence is necessary, use it—violence is your friend, not your enemy. Impose your will on another if you consider it necessary!”
The reasoning of evil people has always justified evil acts and evil behavior.
For Thought and Discussion
1. What is an age-old problem?
The age-old problem is that the young do not wish to listen to their parents.
2. To whom was this reading addressed?
It was addressed to “my son.”
3. What was denied young women?
They were denied the freedom to be exposed to life’s choices.
4. Most young men had the freedom to what?
Most young men had the freedom to roam and be exposed to life’s choices
5. How does this reading begin?
It begins with a plea from a father to listen to your parents.
6. What was the unlikely source that guided the young in life?
The unlikely source was the parents’ guidance.
7. What would parents’ insights provide the young?
Parents’ insights would provide them a wreath for their head and ornaments (jewelry) around their neck.
8. What caution was given?
Examine the persons who appeal to your desires.
9. What would the evil say to the young?
They would say, “Come with us and you will have your heart’s desire by preying on the innocent.”
10. What did the evil people want the young to think about?
They wanted them to think about what they would get, about wealth, and about filling their houses with spoil.
11. What promise did the evil people make to the young?
The evil promised they would take care of them, be trustworthy, and provide for their needs.
12. What four things were obvious in the perspective of the foolish that are still obvious?
1) The distrust of experience.
2) There exists a quick way to obtain one’s physical desires.
3) Materialism is the answer to all a person’s physical desires and wants.
4) The key to success in any material pursuit is violence—using force to take from those whose weakness makes them vulnerable.
Link to Student Guide Lesson 3
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David Chadwell & West-Ark Church of Christ