Connect Proverbs 5:5 with another scripture warning against the dangers of sin. Tracing the Warning in Proverbs 5:5 Proverbs 5:5: “Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to Sheol.” • Solomon pictures sin—here, sexual immorality—as a path with a fatal destination. • “Death” and “Sheol” are not metaphors for inconvenience; they are literal endpoints that reveal God’s unwavering verdict on unrepentant sin. Parallel Warning in James 1:14-15 James 1:14-15: “But each one is tempted by his own evil desires; he is lured away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” • James traces the same downward slope—desire → sin → death. • The imagery of birth and growth shows that unchecked sin matures inevitably into the very death Solomon warned about. A Single Thread: Sin’s Destination Is Death • Both passages affirm that sin is not merely wrong; it is deadly. • The harmony between Old and New Testaments underscores Scripture’s unified, literal witness. • Romans 6:23 reinforces the conclusion: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Practical Takeaways for Daily Life • Recognize early temptations as life-and-death issues, not harmless flirtations. • Cut off sinful desire at the “lure and entice” stage before it conceives. • Measure choices by their destination: if a path leads toward death in Proverbs 5:5 or James 1:15, refuse it. • Embrace God’s gift of eternal life in Christ as the only safe alternative to the deadly wage of sin. |