Scripture Reading:

Proverbs 4:14-19

Proverbs 4:14–19

Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day.

The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

There are two distinct paths contrasted here—the path of the wicked and the path of the just. Jesus Christ, who is the Wisdom of God, also contrasted the narrow way that leads to life with the broad way that leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13-14). Pointing to the wide gate into the broad way, He said, “Many go in there.” The wicked are especially passionate to invite others into this way. “Their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.” These wicked cultural leaders look for a sum-total increase of more wickedness in their homes, schools, corporations, churches, and nations. They cannot rest until they have caused more women to abort their babies, more teens to commit sexual sin, more kids to dishonor their parents, and more academic pride and opposition to God. They are actively working in the pop concert, the media, the college, and sometimes even within the church.

This propaganda campaign is more institutionalized today than ever before. The wicked are funded by powerful institutions and billions of tax dollars. They live for evil, striving to get elected to some powerful office in order to bring about their evil agenda. They are never satisfied until they have managed to lead billions of people astray, ruin economies, and bring about the untimely deaths of hundreds of millions of people. This is the “wine of violence.” Such is the effect of political, social, cultural, and sexual revolutions the world over, from China to the United States, from Germany to Brazil, and from Japan to South Africa.

The way of the wicked is as darkness, and those who walk in it do not know at what they stumble. They cannot distinguish between truth and error, and they are quick to fall all over every false teaching and bad worldview they encounter. The mainstream media and schools today teach a wrong religion about the nature of God, the nature of man, sin, and salvation—and about 90% of the population is deceived by these worldviews. Those who do not participate with the mainstream are often invited by demons into strange cults and other wayward doctrines. Very few are able to identify the extremely bad teachings coming from these sources. They would not say, “Oh, there is a doctrine of demons over which I might stumble!” Rather, they will walk on in the darkness. They cannot see the falsity of one teaching over another.

There are plenty of peers, media personalities, musicians, and ungodly teachers who are ever willing to mentor young men into the way of evil. These cultural and academic leaders are everywhere, and they lead young people who grew up in Christian churches astray by the millions. They teach a man-centered and self-centered way of thinking about life; and by the time students have made it through eighteen years of instruction, they have learned how not to fear God. They have been carefully instructed to ignore God, and they are told God is irrelevant and unimportant for most, if not all, areas of life.

Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. Actually, these instructions are quite easy to understand and to employ. Just avoid it. Purposefully ignore it. Don’t give it a second glance. When the devil
suggests an evil thought or intimates a temptation, the better thing is to move along quickly. Never ask the devil to repeat “what he just said.” Leaning back into the devil’s suggestions is that critical point at which one succumbs to the temptation or the evil surmising. “…Resist the devil, and he will flee from you!” ( Jas. 4:7).

“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day.” But now, the righteous path is lighted for the traveller, in contrast with the dark path laid out for the wicked. Light distinguishes one thing from another. When the lights are on, that which is true and false are clearly seen. While traversing the well-lit path, the hiker will see the bear traps and ravines, and carefully avoid them. This path is also brighter lit as we go. God’s Word is better known, more relevant, increasingly loved, and greater in its transformational impact—all yielding more spiritual growth and maturity upon the journey. How can the young man be sure

How can the young man be sure that he is walking in the right path? He will see the path better lit, and over the years he will observe himself increasing in wisdom. He is more certain of the right way. He watches himself improve in kindness, humility, patience, love, sobriety, and honesty. He increases in mercy, gratefulness, and contentment for God’s good gifts. He is less likely to strive over questionable matters, and more capable of telling the difference between major and minor issues. He loves God more, and hates sin more, especially that which he finds in his own life.

Family Discussion Questions:

1. What are the two paths contrasted in this passage? Describe the differences.

2. How do the wicked work hard to increase wickedness in our world today?

3. How do we resist the devil and fight off the worldly influences?

4. Should we send our children to K–12 or university classrooms where secular teachers refuse to teach chemistry or world history in the fear of God? How might young people be tempted to be drawn into wickedness if they were to listen to music performed by men and women who do not fear God?

5. What is our own experience in walking in the light? Have we traversed this path which shines “more and more unto the perfect day”?