9-17-06 Proverbs 1:13-16

Proverbs 1:13-16 (KJ21)
We shall find much precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil; cast in thy lot among us, let us all have one purse-- my son, walk not thou in the way with them; restrain thy foot from their path; for their feet run to evil and make haste to shed blood.

Proverbs 1:13-16 (NAS)
We shall find all kinds of precious wealth, we shall fill our houses with spoil; Throw in your lot with us, we shall all have one purse, My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, For their feet run to evil, And they hasten to shed blood.

Proverbs 1:13-16 (NIVUS)
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—They rush to commit crimes. They hurry to commit murder. My son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths.

Proverbs 1:13-16 (NLT)
And the loot we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all kinds of things! Come on, throw in your lot with us; we’ll split our loot with you. Don’t go along with them, my child! Stay far away from their paths, for their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed blood.

Ahh...the American Dream... Is it to acquire and secure more, to gain possessions, to have sufficient resources and more than enough to get along? Our philosophy is to have the freedom to get valuable, prized, precious, and costly wealth and riches. We want to fill our houses with an abundance of things. Although most of us stay within the law to do so, we want to get plunder and spoil like any common criminal who is greedy for more. We spend our vigor and strength in this pursuit.

The Lord Jehovah warns you about casting your lot in with those greedy criminals. If you do, you will fall and be overthrown. Though they promise you recompense, you will receive retribution. These wicked ones may promise to share their common purse with you, but you cannot trust their words.

You are a son of the Most High God and should not walk the way they are going. Your manner of life is different than theirs and you should refrain from treading the same path that they are on. Their feet always run towards what is evil and malicious. Their dispositions are vicious and they do unkind and hurtful things to others. They enjoy causing misery and injury. They hasten to shed innocent blood. The anger in their hearts pours out on those they meet.

You, however, are like your Heavenly Father. He is kind and merciful. He extends grace and forgiveness to all who will receive them. When you trust Him, you will always have more than enough. What you spent your strength and time to greedily obtain before will now come to you freely and lavishly through the Lord.