We can all can be tempted by pride, self-righteousness and covetousness, to name just a few attitudes that can lead to sin. In the Barna Group study for Todd Hunter’s book Our Favourite Sins (Thomas Nelson, 2012) half of all respondents to the question, “Why do we give in to temptations?” didn’t really know. The remainder variously acknowledged enjoyment, avoiding pain, satisfying the expectations of others, taking a short cut to success, or lacking willpower as reasons to succumb.
In modern society where the lines between good and evil have become blurred, we need to go to the biblical definitions of right and wrong. Scripture defines sin as breaking God’s law (1 John 3:4, KJV), and God warns about altering His standards of right and wrong: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20).
When worldly ambition reared its head among Christ’s disciples: “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying,… ‘Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory’” (Mark 10:35-37), Christ explained that this was not the right attitude (verses 42-45). These disciples were guilty of pride and a desire to appear greater than their companions.
Another common temptation is lying to impress others. Ananias and his wife, Sapphira sold a possession, but instead of telling the Apostle Peter they were only donating part of the proceeds, they lied and said they were giving the whole sum. Both husband and wife paid with their lives for giving in to this temptation (Acts 5:1-11).
We can all be tempted by pride, self-righteousness (often revealed in being judgemental of others), covetousness and spiritual ambition. Christ pointed out temptation begins in the mind, and that hatred, contempt or being unreasonably angry with someone was equivalent to spiritual murder (Matthew 5:21-22). He gave similar warnings regarding sexual sins: “…whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28).
James, a half-brother of Jesus Christ, explained, “Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fullgrown, brings forth death” (James 1:14-15). We need to choose to eject evil thoughts and deliberately replace them with thoughts more appropriate to a follower of Christ (Philippians 4:8). All our thoughts are to be brought into subjection “to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
We should also consider how we spend our time, money and the company we keep. The Apostle Paul admonished, “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’” (1 Corinthians 15:33). With God’s help gambling, smoking, drinking too much, viewing pornography and many other sins can be overcome – but not if we continue to frequent places where such temptations are rife, or saturate the mind with media influences that glorify sinful practices.
Jesus knows what temptation is like. He set aside His glory to become a man and face the same temptations we do (Philippians 2:5-8). Matthew lists three inducements with which Satan tempted Christ. (Matthew 4:1-11). In each case, Jesus cast out the sinful thought the devil had tried to place in His mind and replaced it with the word of God.
Our High Priest and Saviour can empathise with us and ask the Father to intervene when we cry out for help: “…we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).
If we continue to repent and strive against temptation and its consequences, with God’s help, our Heavenly Father promises to forgive us and blot out our sins. There is a great reward for those who succeed in this battle: “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).
