Users of Enticement

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

USERS OF ENTICEMENT

Prov 16:29

29 A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.

NIV

Surely we should not have anything to do with violent people, but here we see that it may not be so easy to recognize every violent person in order to avoid them. They are enticers, which indicate they may well be wolves in sheep’s clothing. They are masters of disguise, not permitting others to see their real purpose, their evil intents. This is where we believers need to imply the gifts of discernment and wisdom in order to see through the enticements. Another concept to think about is, if the violent man uses enticements or is an enticer a violent man. That is like saying which came first, the chicken or the egg. If the violent man is the only one who entices his neighbor down the wrong path, then we merely have to avoid him. But if it is possible that one who entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good is a violent man, then it is possible we believers could end up being what is considered here as a violent person. If we imply any methods to entice our neighbors to believe anything but the absolute truth of God, then could we be in danger of being this violent man? Is it possible there are those wolves in sheep’s clothing right in the midst of the body of Christ, preaching their false doctrines, enticing others to believe something that is not good.  We must be careful we do not fall into that trap of trying to entice others. Yes we should instruct, encourage, correct one another in the ways of God, but enticement almost sounds or seems like a form of enchantment, casting a spell over others to lead them astray. This is the fine art of perfect persuasion used by some of those famous wolves in sheep’s clothing. We should be careful, be watchful, and be wise and discerning in order not to fall prey to those users of enticement.