Watch Out for Temptation

OPPORTUNITIES for temptation are almost endless. And since human nature is not getting any better, nor is any of us immune to the corrupted appetites of the flesh, we need to take Paul’s warning seriously and watch out for temptation, or we will surely fall. Yet Scripture offers several alternatives for dealing with temptation as we find it:

(1) We should avoid temptation whenever possible. Proverbs 4:14-15 urges us, “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it.” Often we know beforehand whether a certain set of circumstances is likely to lead to sin. Therefore, the obvious way to avoid sin is to avoid those circumstances. Paul described a “way of escape” from temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). Often the escape is to stay away from the place or the people where temptation lurks.

As believers, we can help others in this regard. We can avoid setting up situations that encourage people to do wrong. Teachers, for example, can help students avoid cheating by making assignments, giving tests, and communicating expectations in ways that reduce the need or incentive to cheat. Likewise, business owners and managers can devise procedures that don’t needlessly place employees in a position where they might be tempted to steal cash, inventory, or equipment. It’s not that a teacher or employer can’t trust students or employees, but that no one can trust human nature to be immune from temptation.

(2) We should flee from powerful temptations. Earlier in this letter, Paul warned the Corinthians to flee sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18). Here he warned them to flee idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14). Elsewhere he warned Timothy to flee the lust for material possessions and wealth (1 Timothy 6:9-11), as well as youthful lusts (2 Timothy 2:22). The message is clear: don’t toy with temptation. Flee from it!

(3) Chronic temptation is something we need to confess and offer to Christ, and ask for His cleansing work. Some temptations are powerful inner struggles, with thoughts and attitudes that graphically remind us of how fallen we really are. What should we do with that kind of temptation? Rather than deny it or try to repress it, we should bring it to Christ. He alone is capable of cleaning up the insides of our minds.

(4) Finally, we must resist temptation until it leaves us. When Christ was tempted by the devil, He resisted until the devil went away (Matthew 4:1-11). James encouraged us to do the same (James 4:7). Resistance begins by bathing our minds with the Word of God and standing our ground. We have the promise, after all, that the temptations we experience will never go beyond the common experiences of others, or beyond our ability to deal with them (see again 1 Corinthians 10:13). That is great news!

Courtesy of Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
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