Avoiding Bad Examples in Daily Life According to Scripture

Scripture frequently exhorts believers to avoid bad examples in daily life, emphasizing both the internal disposition and external actions necessary for a righteous walk. This avoidance is not merely passive but involves actively shunning evil and pursuing good ^{[11, 14]}.

One foundational principle is to guard the heart and mind from inclinations toward wickedness. Psalm 141:4 prays, "Don’t incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity. Don’t let me eat of their delicacies" ^[1]. This highlights the importance of internal resistance to temptation and the rejection of association with those who practice iniquity. Similarly, Exodus 23:1 warns against spreading false reports and joining with the wicked to be a malicious witness, indicating that participation in evil actions, even through association, is forbidden ^[2]. The Torrey's Topical Textbook further notes that malice springs from an evil heart and is forbidden, being incompatible with the worship of God and a hindrance to spiritual growth ^[5].

The New Testament reinforces these warnings. Hebrews 12:15 cautions against "any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it" ^[4]. This suggests that internal spiritual issues, if left unchecked, can spread and corrupt others. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 10:32 and 2 Corinthians 6:3, warns against giving offense, indicating that believers should avoid actions that could cause others to stumble ^[9]. This extends to abstaining from things that might appear evil to others, even if they are not inherently sinful, to prevent reproach against the Gospel ^{[13, 15]}. Adam Clarke, commenting on Romans 14:16, suggests that believers should use their Christian liberty in a way that does not subject the Gospel to reproach, performing good acts with prudence and watchfulness to maximize good and minimize evil ^[15].

Specific behaviors and attitudes are identified as bad examples to be avoided:

Malice and Revenge: Malice is explicitly forbidden and seen as incompatible with God's worship ^[5]. Revenge is also forbidden, with Christ serving as an example of forbearing it. Instead of seeking revenge, believers are encouraged to trust in God, exhibit love, and overcome evil with kindness ^[7].
Strife: Christ is presented as an example of avoiding strife. Scripture forbids strife, identifying it as a "work of the flesh" and an evidence of a carnal spirit. It can be excited by hatred, pride, wrath, and other negative dispositions ^[6].
Procrastination: Procrastination in spiritual matters, such as hearkening to God, seeking Him, and keeping His commandments, is condemned. The present is emphasized as the accepted and best time for such actions, given the uncertainty of life ^[8].
Care overmuch for earthly things: Excessive worry about material possessions is forbidden, with God's providential goodness and promises serving as reasons to avoid it. Such care can obstruct the Gospel and is seen as unbecoming for saints ^[3].

The concept of avoiding evil also includes actively seeking good. John Gill, in his commentary on Amos 5:14, states that believers should "seek good, and not evil," meaning they should not seek evil persons or things, but rather "the chief good," which is God ^[14]. Similarly, Gill's commentary on 1 Peter 3:11 advises believers to "eschew evil," which means to avoid all kinds of evil, hate it, and abstain from its appearance, particularly avoiding retaliation. Instead, they should "do good," performing good works according to God's will ^[11]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary on Proverbs 4:14 encourages avoiding "all temptations to the beginning of evil" ^[12].

Flavius Josephus, in Antiquities of the Jews, suggests that those who wish to live well and give laws to others should contemplate the Divine nature and imitate God's operations, striving to follow the best pattern possible for human nature ^[10]. This reflects a broader understanding that moral conduct is rooted in an imitation of divine character.

Sources

Psalms “Don’t incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity. Don’t let me eat of their delicacies. -- Psalms 141:4”
Exodus ““You shall not spread a false report. Don’t join your hand with the wicked to be a malicious witness. -- Exodus 23:1”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Care, Overmuch — About earthly things, forbidden -- Mt 6:25; Lu 12:22,29; Joh 6:27. God's providential goodness should keep us from -- Mt 6:26,28,30; Lu 22:35. God's promises should keep us from -- Heb 13:5. Trust in God should free us from -- Jer 17:7,8; Da 3:16. Should be cast on God -- Ps 37:5; 55:22; Pr 16:3; 1Pe 5:7. An obstruction to the Gospel -- Mt 13:22; Lu 8:14; 14:18-20. Be without -- 1Co 7:32; Php 4:6. Unbecoming in saints -- 2Ti 2:4. Uselessness of -- Mt 6:27; Lu 12:25,26. Vanity of -- Ps 39:6; Ec 4:8. Warning against -- Lu 21:34. Sent as a punishment to”
Hebrews “looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it; -- Hebrews 12:15”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Malice — Springs from an evil heart -- Mt 15:19,20; Ga 5:19. Forbidden -- 1Co 14:20; Col 3:8; Eph 4:26,27. A hindrance to growth in grace -- 1Pe 2:1,2. Incompatible with the worship of God -- 1Co 5:7,8. Christian liberty not to be a cloak for -- 1Pe 2:16. Saints avoid -- Job 31:29,30; Ps 35:12-14. The wicked Speak with. -- 3Jo 1:10. Live in. -- Tit 3:3. Conceive. -- Ps 7:14. Filled with. -- Ro 1:29. Visit saints with. -- Ps 83:3; Mt 22:6. Pray for those who injure you through -- Mt 5:44. Brings its own punishment -- Ps 7:15,16. God requites -- Ps 10:14; Eze 36:5. Pun”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Strife — Christ, an example of avoiding -- Isa 42:2; Mt 12:15-19; Lu 9:52-56; 1Pe 2:23. Forbidden -- Pr 3:30; 25:8. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. An evidence of a carnal spirit -- 1Co 3:3. Existed in the church -- 1Co 1:11. Excited by Hatred. -- Pr 10:12. Pride. -- Pr 13:10; 28:25. Wrath. -- Pr 15:18; 30:33. Frowardness. -- Pr 16:28. A contentious disposition. -- Pr 26:21. Tale-bearing. -- Pr 26:20. Drunkenness. -- Pr 23:29,30. Lusts. -- Jas 4:1. Curious questions. -- 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 2:23. Scorning. -- Pr 22:10. Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it -- Pr 1”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Revenge — Forbidden by our Lord -- Le 19:18; Pr 24:17,29; Mt 5:39-41; Ro 12:17,19; 1Th 5:15; 1Pe 3:9. Christ an example of forbearing -- Isa 53:7; 1Pe 2:23. Rebuked by Christ -- Lu 9:54,55. Inconsistent with Christian spirit -- Lu 9:55. Proceeds from a spiteful heart -- Eze 25:15. Instead of taking, we should Trust in God. -- Pr 20:22; Ro 12:16. Exhibit love. -- Le 19:18; Lu 6:35. Give place to wrath. -- Ro 12:19. Exercise forbearance. -- Mt 5:38-41. Bless. -- Ro 12:14. Overcome others by kindness. -- Pr 25:21,22; Ro 12:20. Keep others from taking -- 1Sa 24:10; 25:24”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Procrastination — Condemned by Christ -- Lu 9:59-62. Saints avoid -- Ps 27:8; 119:60. To be avoided in Hearkening to God. -- Ps 95:7,8; Heb 3:7,8. Seeking God. -- Isa 55:6. Glorifying God. -- Jer 13:16. Keeping God's commandments. -- Ps 119:60. Making offerings to God. -- Ex 22:29. Performance of vows. -- De 23:21; Ec 5:4. Motives for avoiding The present the accepted time. -- 2Co 6:2. The present the best time. -- Ec 12:1. The uncertainty of life. -- Pr 27:1. Danger of illustrated -- Mt 5:25; Lu 13:25. Exemplified Lot. -- Ge 19:16. Felix. -- Ac 24:25.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Offence — Occasions of, must arrive -- Mt 18:7. Occasions of, forbidden -- 1Co 10:32; 2Co 6:3. Persecution, a cause of, to mere professors -- Mt 13:21; 24:10; 26:31. The wicked take, at The low station of Christ. -- Isa 53:1-3; Mt 13:54-57. Christ, as the corner-stone. -- Isa 8:14; Ro 9:33; 1Pe 2:8. Christ, as the bread of life. -- Joh 6:58-61. Christ crucified. -- 1Co 1:23; Ga 5:11. The righteousness of faith. -- Ro 9:32. The necessity of inward purity. -- Mt 15:11,12. Blessedness of not taking, at Christ -- Mt 11:6. Saints warned against taking -- Joh 16:1. Saints ”
Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 11, section 4: life well, and give laws to others, in the first place should consider the Divine nature; and, upon the contemplation of God's operations, should thereby imitate the best of all patterns, so far as it is possible for human nature to do, and to endeavor to follow after it: neither could the legislator himself have a right mind without such a contemplation; nor would any thing he should write tend to the promotion of virtue in his readers; I mean, unless they be taught first of all, that God is the Father and Lord of all things, a”
1 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Peter 3:11: Let him eschew evil,.... Avoid all kinds of evil, hate it, abstain from the appearance of it, and have no fellowship with it; and particularly should avoid rendering evil for evil, or taking revenge on persons for doing him ill: and do good; everything that is good, all good works, according to the will of God, in the exercise of faith, from a principle of love, and with a view to the glory of God; and without trusting to them, and depending upon them for life and salvation; and particularly do good for evil; do good to all men, acts of kindness and beneficence, ev”
Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 4:14: (Compare Psa 1:1). Avoid all temptations to the beginning of evil.”
1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 5:22: TITTMANN supports English Version, "from every evil appearance" or "semblance." The context, however, does not refer to evil appearances IN OURSELVES which we ought to abstain from, but to holding ourselves aloof from every evil appearance IN OTHERS; as for instance, in the pretenders to spirit-inspired prophesyings. In many cases the Christian should not abstain from what has the semblance ("appearance") of evil, though really good. Jesus healed on the sabbath, and ate with publicans and sinners, acts which wore the appearance of evil, but wh”
Amos (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Amos 5:14: Seek good, and not evil,.... Seek not unto, or after, evil persons and evil things; not the company and conversation of evil men, which is infectious and dangerous; nor anything that is evil, or has the appearance of it, especially the evil of evils, sin; which is hateful to God, contrary to his nature and will; is evil in its own nature, and bad in its consequences, and therefore not to be sought, but shunned and avoided; but seek that which is good, persons and things: seek the "summum bonnum", "the chief good", God, who is essentially, perfectly, immutably, and commu”
Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 14:16: Let not then your good be evil spoken of - Do not make such a use of your Christian liberty as to subject the Gospel itself to reproach. Whatsoever you do, do it in such a manner, spirit, and time, as to make it productive of the greatest possible good. There are many who have such an unhappy method of doing their good acts, as not only to do little or no good by them, but a great deal of evil. It requires much prudence and watchfulness to find out the proper time of performing even a good action.”

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