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Great advice from one of my favorite mentors, J.C. Ryle

There is a wise saying, "He that would be safe from the acts of evil, must widely avoid the occasions."


There is an old fable, that the butterfly once asked the owl how she should deal with the fire, which had singed her wings; and the owl counseled her, in reply, not to even look at its smoke.

It is not enough that we determine not to commit sin, we must carefully keep at a distance from all approaches to it. By this test we ought to examine the ways we spend our time--the books that we read, the friends that we visit, the part of society which we interact with. We must not be content with saying, "There is nothing wrong here;" we must go further, and say, "Is there anything here which may cause me to sin?"

This is one good reason why worldly entertainments are so objectionable. It may be difficult, in some instances, to show that they are, in themselves, positively unscriptural and wrong. But there is little difficulty in showing that the tendency of almost all of them is most injurious to the soul. They sow the seeds of an earthly and sensual frame of mind. They war against the life of faith. They promote an unhealthy and unnatural craving after excitement. They minister to the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. They cloud the view of heaven and eternity, and they tend to take away time for private prayer, scripture reading, and calm communion with God. To mingle with them is like one who gives Satan an advantage.

People may ask, "where is the great harm of such things?" But don't listen to them. It is dangerous to perform tricks with sharp tools: it is far more dangerous to take liberties with your immortal soul. Those that would be safe do not go near the brink of danger.

Take to heart the advice of Solomon, not only to "Not set foot on the path of the wicked," but to "Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go your way" (Proverbs 4:15); The man who took the vow of a Nazarite in Israel, not only took no wine, but be even abstained from grapes in any shape whatever. "Hate what is evil," says Paul to the Romans (Romans 12:9); not merely not to do it; "Flee the evil desires of youth," he writes to Timothy; get away from them as far as possible (2 Timothy 2:22). Oh, how needful are such cautions!


Excerpted and slightly editied from "Thoughts for Young Men"
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  1. AnonymousNovember 4, 2009 at 11:32 AM

    Thanks for sharing! Reminds me of a common quote from one of my mentors, "What were Adam and Eve doing hanging out around the tree when they had a whole garden to enjoy?"

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