Verse 10 through 19 is advice that Solomon gives to the young. But it’s good for all of us!

The Message Bible states it like this: Dear friend, if bad companions tempt you, don’t go along with them.

Why would you even get tempted?

Temptation actually could be a good trigger. Yes, you read that correctly. It’s a good trigger. It’s telling you that you are deficient in an area. That deficiency is to draw you closer to God in regards to that area in your life so that your needs are completely fulfilled.

The problem with sin is that it’s a counterfeit. It’s a substitution for something very real that God wants us to have. God wants you to have prosperity. But stealing it is wrong. God wants you to have sex. But He provided it in the confines of marriage for many, many reasons. God wants you to be avenged when someone does you wrong, but murder isn’t the way. He promised He will avenge you.

The friends who tempt you are doing it out of one of two reasons: either they aren’t really a friend or they can only give you what they have: deficiency. So don’t go along with them. But provide for them the answer to the temptation: God.

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For a limited time, a few of the devotionals will be posted for your spiritual enrichment in this blog. These are taken from the upcoming one year devotional to be released October, 2007 One Minute Guide to Health, Wealth, and Happiness: Wisdom from the book of Proverbs © 2007, Raquel Soto All rights reserved