8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction
And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;
9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head
And [b]ornaments about your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us,
Let us lie in wait for blood,
Let us ambush the innocent without cause;
12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,
Even whole, as those who go down to the pit;
13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth,
We will fill our houses with spoil;
14 Throw in your lot [c]with us,
We shall all have one purse,”
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them.
Keep your feet from their path,
16 For their feet run to evil
And they hasten to shed blood.
17 Indeed, it is [d]useless to spread the baited net
In the sight of any [e]bird;
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood;
They ambush their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence;
It takes away the life of its possessors.
This passage paints a pretty vivid picture of violence, of wicked people out for nothing but to profit from the misery of others. It seems pretty obvious, let’s not join in with people who “lie in wait for blood”, right!? Certainly, we ought not to go stealing from others to enrich ourselves? Especially since the end is the spilling of their own blood, and an ambush set for the very ones who sought to ambush others.
Yet evil deeds are rarely so obnoxious, they often seem fairly innocent, at least at the start. Even “causes” which seem noble can lead us into a similar place. Once again, I’m reminded of the ongoing “feud” which I try so much to ignore. It’s tempting to side with one or the other, but I have no doubt that both sides have their shortcomings. Certainly one side is appealing to our desires to do good and share with others.
However, the methods they have chosen to employ all but nullify their cause. And like this proverb states, though I hope it does not come to this, they may have set an ambush for their own livelihood. So in other areas of our lives, we need to be careful of who we align ourselves with. Why have we joined their cause? Is it for our own gain, or are we concerned with the good of others, of what is best for all of those involved?
The ultimate cause is Christ, and again, we ought to measure all else by that ruler. Are you following the path He has laid out for you, or have you been distracted by things that seem good and just? Dig deeper, don’t be lazy in your quest for “social justice” or charitable deeds, but examine your own motives and the motives of those you have joined. It isn’t enough to be selfless, we must also be filled with God’s love, and follow His heart in all we do.