Proverbs 1:8–10
“My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother… My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”
Proverbs begins with a father speaking to his son about wisdom. Almost immediately, the young man is presented with competing voices. His father and mother are offering instruction, while others are saying, “Come with us.” One voice is calling him towards wisdom; another is inviting him down a destructive path.
The young man has to decide who he will listen to.
Men, that decision never disappears.
Whether you are thirteen or fifty-three, voices are constantly competing for your attention. Friends, social media, music, influencers, culture, colleagues and our own desires can all shape the way we think. Not every voice speaking confidently is speaking wisely.
Notice the warning: “If sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” Enticement requires agreement. They can invite you, pressure you and make something look attractive, but eventually you decide whether their voice will influence your direction.
Growing from a boy into a man requires learning that you cannot follow every crowd. There will be moments when becoming the man God wants you to be means saying no when everyone around you is saying yes.
But this isn’t only a lesson for teenagers. Older men must also examine whose voices are shaping them. Age does not automatically produce wisdom. A grown man can still be influenced by the wrong people.
God has given us His Word, godly parents, mature believers and wise counsel for a reason. Learn to recognise voices that strengthen your character rather than weaken it.
Men, pay attention to who has your ear, because whoever repeatedly has your ear can eventually influence your direction.
Boys follow the crowd. Godly men learn to choose which voice they will follow. Who are you listening to?
God bless you, Men of God. Continue in your roar.