Proverbs Chapter 22

Proverbs 22:24-25 (ESV)
"Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,
lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare."

A case could very well be made that peer pressure is one of the greatest influences in society. We tend to take on the characteristics of those with whom we hang out. Peer pressure is a part of life and not only life as a teenager or adolescent. Adults are very much affected by peer pressure. Peer pressure can be good or bad. It seems however, that peer pressure tends to be more negative than positive. It’s a part of the natural state of this fallen world. Without an intentional input of positive energy and orderly design everything tends to go from good-to-bad and from bad-to-worse.

In Proverbs 22:24-25 Solomon gives us some counsel on fighting the negative influence of peer pressure. There are a few very interesting words in these verses. The word for friendship literally means to "pasture or graze with". The idea is to be a "constant companion of". In our culture we might say "to hang out with". Another word of note is the first word here translated "man". This is not the normal word for man that we see later in the verse. This first word for man is from the Hebrew word "ba’al". This is, of course, the name of one of the Canaanite deities. It means master, owner, or possessor. The idea is of a man who has strong influence. He can "own control of" or "possess" another’s will, thoughts and actions. In this verse he is a man given to anger but the principle is true for any immoral behavior that is part of this "ba’al". This is a very dangerous man to "pasture with". Solomon writes that if we "hang out" with a "ba’al" we will learn his ways. This does not indicate that the "ba’al" has to actively teach his immoral ways. The idea is that by being his companion you will learn his ways by simple association. There would be a subtle shift in thinking and behavior until your ways were very much in line with his. You would become "snared" and not even realize it.

So what can we do about this danger of very destructive peer pressure? There must be a very intentional input of positive and Godly influences. We should be a daily "companion" of God’s Word. We should "pasture and graze" with others who would encourage us to grow in our Christian life. We must be careful to recognize a "ba’al" type of man and avoid him. We must teach our young people of the danger of "ba’als". We must try with every tool at our disposal to find good influences for our children. And we should try to be for others the positive peer pressure that we seek and desire for our own lives.

The "ba’al" man is a dangerous force to be reckoned with and the trap is real. But we do have a God who is greater and stronger. Where sin abounds His grace abounds even more. Where we are weak, He is strong. Turn to Him and let Him surround you with His strength. Humble yourself before Him and resist the devil and his "ba’al". "Hang out" with the Lord Almighty and His people for a life filled with positive peer pressure.