Ephesians 5:15 (ESV)
¹⁵  Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

It is said that misery loves company.  So does sin.  Sinners love to get others to partake in their sins.  They are often successful, especially with those who are unwise and gullible (Proverbs 14:15).  Solomon warns us about this.  

Proverbs 1:10 (ESV)
¹⁰  My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

This is not a picture of one being deceived, but rather, of one giving in to the desires of another.  To consent is to yield or acquiesce.  Why would anyone do something that he knows is wrong?  The easy answer is that he is unwise, which might certainly be true; however, sometimes even the wise act unwisely.  Solomon himself is an example of this.  Never did a wise man ever act more unwisely than he did consistently.  Read the book of Ecclesiastes.

Why do wise people fail to walk wisely?  There are several reasons.  A desire to be popular is one.  Many unwise actions have been taken by those who give in to peer pressure.  The consumption of drugs and alcohol often begins with someone just trying to fit in with the crowd.  Wanting to be popular is a strong motive to do something we know to be wrong.  We must determine to walk wisely and not yield to such temptation.  Moses said, “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil…” (Exodus 23:2).  This is an admonition we should all follow.

Fearing man is another reason some consent to sinners.  We have an example of this in the Bible.  While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch, Peter came down from Jerusalem (Galatians 2:11).  They were all associating with their Gentile brothers until some others came from James who, evidently, had a problem with associating with Gentiles who did not keep the Law.  At that point, some, including Peter and Barnabas, withdrew from the Gentiles.  Paul exposed their hypocrisy.

Galatians 2:11-13 (NKJV)
¹¹  Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; ¹²  for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. ¹³  And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

We must determine to do right, no matter what others are doing, and not allow anyone to persuade us to violate the will of God, not even those closest to us.

Deuteronomy 13:6, 8 (ESV)
⁶  “If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or your daughter or the wife you embrace or your friend who is as your own soul entices you secretly… ⁸  you shall not yield to him…”

We are surrounded by those who do not live according to the precepts of God.  Some will do their best to get us to live like them instead of for the Lord.  If we are wise, we will not consent.      

 As you wind down for the night, think about these things.