Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? - Proverbs 6:27
The proverb is specific: if we play with fire, we will get burned. The adage doesn’t allude, insinuate, or imply. It boldly asks the outcome of making wrong choices and warns us well in advance. “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” - Galatians 6:7.
There is no deeply spiritual riddle that one must solve before the truth makes itself apparent. Even the unbelievers are wary enough to understand that one cannot play with fire and reap a Godly award.
Think of our children. Think of the dreams we have for them. Think of their dreams. Are those dreams consistent with God’s will for us and for them? Also, consider the repercussions of allowing our children to make the decisions, the choices, the determinations which will affect their lives for good or bad.
Will we say, “I must let them make their own choices and let them learn from their mistakes?” Will we let them ‘learn’ from shooting poison into their veins whether or not drug abuse is a good choice? Will we let them speed in their vehicles and hope that a ticket or two will teach them a valuable lesson? Will we let them choose to drop out of school and hope they somehow purchase the winning lottery number? Will we willingly encourage or support marriage with a criminal? If we say ‘No’ to any of these, then why on earth would we allow them to make bad choices when it comes to friends and associates? “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” - Proverbs 13:20.
We see the effects of ill decisions on our streets and in our neighborhoods every day. Our jails and prisons and graveyards are full of mistakes and poor choices. Why in God’s holy name would we ever simply turn our attention away from the choices our children haphazardly make? And while they may learn from their mistakes their lives may become inexorably changed for the worse . . . forever!
The Word of God is clear about the character of those who sit by and allow the worst to come to their own. “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” - 1 Timothy 5:8. We have a responsibility to watch out for and protect the ones we love. Make no mistake: if we deliberately show indifference to our loved ones when they make heinous errors that lead to loss of life or soul, it is on us as well as them. Let’s face it, we wouldn’t watch our loved ones jump into a tumultuous river. Why would we watch them jump into hell?
Throughout our lives we are called to make choices. We choose our vocations, our jobs, our mates, where we live, where we shop, where we worship. And while some decisions are made for us, by and large, we make most of our life decisions ourselves. It is usually with careful deliberation and consideration that we make such choices. All but the minimally thoughtful among us understand the importance of making ‘good choices’. “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” - Proverbs 27:12.
These considerations apply in many situations. They may apply to our siblings, our parents, our friends, and our family in general. The one about to make a rash decision may be a coworker or a colleague. Does this mean we should go about injecting our opinions wherever we see someone contemplating a choice? Perhaps we should heed the words of ‘The Prince of Preachers’, Charles Spurgeon - “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”
As can be seen, the importance of cautioning those around us, especially our loved ones, how much more should we heed this advice ourselves? “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” - Proverbs 3:5-6. Let us always make the voice of God our fire alarm.
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