1. Don’t Be Like the Rich Young Ruler. “But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22). He was told what to do to inherit eternal life but walked away from Jesus because he didn’t like what he heard. The truth can be difficult to hear, but we must accept it if we will have eternal life.

2. Don’t Be Like King Rehoboam. “But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him” (1 Kings 12:8). He received wise counsel from the older men who had advised his father, but this counsel called on him to humble himself before the people. His young friends encouraged him to assert himself above others, to put himself first, which cost him his kingdom. Don’t reject wise advice.

3. Don’t Be Like Esau. “Lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright” (Heb. 12:16). He did not value that which the Lord had given him. Instead, he traded it away to satisfy a momentary physical desire. The Lord has blessed the Christian with an eternal birthright, but it can be sold for the passing pleasures of sin.

4. Don’t Be Like Pilate. “When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, ‘I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it’” (Matt. 27:24). When placed in a difficult situation, he sought to absolve himself of his personal responsibility and guilt. Too many people are like Pilate in this regard, and the world is a worse place because of it.

5. Don’t Be Like Demas. “For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica...” (2 Tim. 4:10). He abandoned Paul, his faith, His Lord, and His eternal salvation to enjoy the passing pleasures of this present world. We are not to love this world, or the things in this world (1 John 2:15). Don’t let the world pull you away from the Lord.