Influence: A Danger To Watch!
Proverbs 1:10,15
NIV
My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them. [15] My son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;
A prison officer friend once told me that the majority of people they have in their custody confess to them what led them to commit crimes; the chiefest is influence.
He said that during their imprisonment, those who come to visit them are mostly noble men and women, which suggests that some came from good homes, morally speaking.
So, one may ask how come? The only answer is Influence. I have seen good and upright people yielding to negative influence from colleagues resulting in shame and disgrace.
I've seen people who wanted to do something good, but failed to because of the negative influence of someone else.
Most of these influences come with enticement, subtle threats, and/or coercion which makes it difficult to resist. Whichever way it comes one must heed the advice of the proverb writer;
“My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them. [15] my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;”
A word to the wise!