Quick Note – Proverbs 5:22 – A Sticky Situation

Proverbs 5:22 – “The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.”

When I was younger (much, much younger) like still in elementary school, I visited the famous La Brea Tar Pits.  These black lakes of asphalt are located in downtown Los Angeles, which have been there since the Ice Age according to the museum website.  I loved this museum, because it was filled with fossils and as a child, I really wanted to become a paleontologist (due to my exposure to Jurassic Park).  The fossils were found in the pits, which is exciting but also sad; exciting because it is history preserved for our generation to see, but sad because an animal had to drown in the tar for that preservation to occur.  Fossils of mammoths, sloths, and saber-tooth cats have all been found in this area.  Although most people that go to visit there are more concerned about the smell, when I visited as a kid, I was more worried about falling into the pit.  Although it was definitely gated for safety, I was still afraid of falling in, because I knew that if I got stuck, my life would be over.  I would become a fossil for future generations.  Nowadays, I know that I wouldn’t die from drowning in the tar but would likely have my skin burned due to the chemical reactions occurring in the tar (but that is an aside).  Whether from drowning or burning, I knew that the tar pits were dangerous so I kept a safe distance.

Sin is similar to these tar pits, in that once you slip in it is very difficult if not impossible to get out.  I am not sure how these animals fell into the pits before but I would assume some of them slipped in by playing way too close to the edge.  We as Christians do the same thing too.  We know that sin can be dangerous; we know that the consequences of sin are grave; and we even know how it puts sorrow into the heart of God, but instead of staying away from it, we play close to the edge.  We don’t run from temptation as Joseph did when propositioned by Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39) or resolve to follow God as Daniel and his friends did when taken to Babylon (Daniel 1) or even ask God to keep us from sin as David did (Psalm 19:13).  Instead we allow sin to continue to invade our lives a little at a time.  Take it from me, the verse that says, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall,” (1 Corinthians 10:12) is completely true.  I personally struggle with sins that I didn’t intend to fall in initially.  I thought I was strong; I thought I could resist the temptation; but then I fell and struggle with that sin ever since.  Our verse today is Proverbs 5:22, which is a clear reminder that sin entangles, it traps, it imprisons.  Sin is like a tar pit, once you fall in, you will sink.  I am sure that King David could attest to this, as he fell into the trap with Bathsheba.  When he saw her bathing, he should have turned away but instead he indulged his sin and committed adultery.  Eventually, when about to be caught he committed murder and tried to hide it.  Sin entrapped him.

We as Christians, as disciples of Jesus Christ, need to run from sin.  We need to be wary of the Devil, which walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).  Sin will get us into a sticky situation, and we need to stop playing so close to the edge.  But if you have fallen into sin, if you are stuck in this “sticky situation,” know that all hope is not lost, for we have redemption in Christ.  If you repent of your sin and return to Him, He will get you out.  Let us instead stand strong, place the right guards, and stay away from the tar pit of sin, lest we become a “fossil” for a future generation of what happens when Christians play too close to sin.

Proverbs 5:22 – The Entanglement of Sin

Proverbs 5:22 – “The iniquities of the wicked ensare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.”

I don’t know about you, but I am one of those people who enjoy eating frog legs.  I don’t really like them cooked in any old way, but when they are coated with some batter, mixed with salt and pepper, and fried, I cannot resist.  That dish is delicious!  But it is also pretty pricey.  This may be due to frogs being hard to catch but maybe it also has something to do with cooking it.  I have heard that when you cook a frog, you cannot just throw it into boiling hot water, because it will jump right back out.  Instead, you must place it in nice room temperature water in the pot and slowly bring the heat up to boil.  At room temperature, the frog will calmly settle into the water, and as you bring up the heat, the frog is not phased, because it is accustoming itself to each degree one by one.  Then finally, when the water is at boiling temp, the frog no longer stirs, for it slowly grew accustomed to its watery surroundings never realizing that it was being cooked alive.  It never knew it was being trapped until it was finally too late.

The sad truth is that many people are just like that frog when it comes to sin and addictions.  They say that they will only try the drug, take a sip of the alcohol, steal a peek at that bad movie or magazine, but as they take those small steps they are slowly being entangled by what they thought they had control of at the beginning.  Like a fly that puts just one foot on a web, they are fully trapped and entangled waiting to have their lives consumed by the predator.  The thing about sin is that it always seems okay at the beginning.  It always seems to be “controllable.”  That is the one reason why many people don’t realize that they are trapped until it is too late, and the sin has already become a bad habit/addiction.  Our passage, a proverb from Solomon, stated it best, “The iniquities of the wicked ensare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.”  Sin, although it may seem “freeing,” is actually an unanticipated captor that will spring its jaws on you when it is too late for you to run.  It promises fun, happiness, and fulfillment to all who take part in it, but all it gives in return is guilt, discontentment, and dependence.  Just look at how so many men, and even women, are slaves to pornography, so much so that they cannot even enjoy their marriage for they are glued to their fake fantasies on a computer screen as they slowly destroy their relationship with their spouses.  And it usually starts with just a click of a button.  Or take an example from those who get entangled in their lies, for their entanglement usually begins with just a “little white lie.”  As disciples of Jesus Christ, we must never allow Satan to take even a small toehold onto our hearts, minds, and lives.  Satan tries to convince us that just a little bit of sin is okay, just a small step in that direction, a taste of that life is all we need, but in reality, he is just baiting a trap to capture all those unsuspecting Christians who will give him a slight chance.  Hebrews 12:1 reminds us to run the race that is set before us, and in doing so, we must put aside the “sin which doth so easily beset us.”  We are told to lay aside that sin because of its hindering effects to our growth as a Christian.  Not only does it hinder your purpose and ministry in life, but it also hinders your relationship with Christ, for God cannot dwell where sin is present.  It must be expunged, which is what Christ came to do.  If you as a Christian or even a non-Christian have fallen and are entangled in sin today, turn to Christ, for He, like a master key, will get you free from any addiction.  All you need to do is turn to Him in repentance, for He died to free you from sin.  If as a Christian, you are being tempted to sin, then remember its capturing properties and run.  Run away as fast as you can.  Don’t play with sin, for it’ll get you into a messy situation.