If Sinners Entice Thee

The first time that Billy noticed the man was when he was coming home from school. The man had a white beard and very blue eyes. He was pushing the most beautiful mountain bicycle that Billy had ever seen. It was just Billy’s size, and it looked brand new.

“Hi, Billy!” said the man. “Can you help me?”

Billy wondered how the man knew his name. He remembered how Mother had told him to never, never take candy from strangers. But this man wasn’t offering candy. He was asking for help.

“How can I get to the school?” asked the man.

Billy told the man how to get to the school. The man thanked him and pushed the wonderful mountain bike toward the school.

It was next week before Billy saw the man again. This time, he was pulling some large boxes behind him on a garden wagon. The boxes had pictures of a computer on them. One of the pictures showed a boy looking at the computer and typing on the keyboard.

“Hi, Billy!” said the man. “I just bought a new computer. I got it on sale, but I don’t know how to use it. Do you know someone who could help me?”

Billy was quiet. He didn’t know this man, but it looked as if he needed help. “It’s not that hard,” Billy said, finally.

“I just want to send some letters to my little boy. I don’t get to see him much because they took him away from me.” Billy wondered what the man was doing with a boy’s mountain bike last week if he didn’t hardly ever see his little boy.

The man went on talking. “I bought a bike last week for a boy named John. He said he would help me if I gave him the bike. I was supposed to meet him at the school, but he never showed up. Could you help me?”

Billy thought a moment. “Well,” Billy said, “my dad and I could help you.”

“I wouldn’t need much help,” the man said quickly. “I would hate to bother your dad.”

Billy’s dad was very busy. “Mother and I could help you,” Billy offered.

“There’s no need to bother your parents at all,” the man said, smiling. “I just need a little help. If you could do it, I’d give the bike to you. If you don’t think they’ll like it, you could even keep the bike at my house.”

“Mother and Daddy are my best earthly friends!” Billy said very firmly. “I am not going do anything without telling them.” With a frown, the man hurried away.

After Billy told his parents about what happened, they called the police. Then Dad took out the Bible and read: “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”* (Proverbs 1:8-10)

“That man tried to entice you,” Mother said, “and I’m very glad you didn’t consent.”