Whether it’s that dark chocolate mousse cake in the coffee shop, that irresistible pair of jeans on sale or a dark secret web search at night – temptation is a real thing. In fact, I would go as far as to say that temptation is never truly absent from our lives. The possibility for us to give in never lessens. The only thing that changes is our strength and ability to move past it.
I have realised that there are a few aspects of temptation that never change.
Temptation wants you weak
It is only when we are tired, stressed, preoccupied or emotional that temptation starts to have more of a pull on your decisions. It is more than a basic desire for something. I may crave strawberries all day and plan to buy some as soon as possible, but that craving was not a result of weakness. It was something I simply wanted to enjoy. When we are strong – when life is going well, we have enough sleep, enough energy and are emotionally stable – temptation is very rarely an issue. But it’s when we tired and weak that we begin considering things that we would never have entertained in our right minds. That’s the difference between desire and temptation. Desire can be healthy. Temptation wants you sick.
Temptation gets easier every time
Eating that second donut makes you more susceptible to having a third. The whole ‘might as well’ scenario can trap you into creating shortcuts in your thinking. Scientists have studied how addicts have reinforced neural pathways towards certain areas of thought that will result in relapse. Temptation is concurrent and it doesn’t give up easily. Give it an inch and it will take a meter. Over time it can overtake you completely.
So how do we respond to temptation?
I don’t know if you believe in Jesus or what he stands for, but he did model a way to respond in those moments where we feel weak. There are three types of temptation that he addresses head on:
The Temptation to Fulfil Your Desire
Jesus had been fasting for forty days in a desert when he first was tempted. He was obviously hungry. He was obviously physically weak (he was fully human). So when he was tempted to turn stones into bread, I am sure his body was inclined to go that way too.
Jesus responded by saying ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’. Living on food is great, but if you understand that God created everything that exists by speaking, you can see that God made oxygen, water, the ground, our bodies and everything else we might think we need. Instead of making bread for himself that would go stale in a few hours, Jesus decided to focus on someone who had the power to change everything forever.
You may feel starved of life. Maybe you are battling with sexual temptation, there may be a need for comfort that you normally find in food or alcohol. Temptation plays on our natural needs and twists them into something shameful. Maybe choose to focus on the one who gave you those needs – as well as created the fulfilment of each need as well.
The Temptation to Prove Yourself
This modern world is full of ambition and unapologetic agendas. In an age where fame and recognition can be garnered while sitting in front of your computer in your room, there are a lot of cutthroat individuals that are clawing their way to the ‘big time’.
You may feel the urge to impress people – whether it be your family, your boss, your friends, your frenemies or simply just impress yourself. You may be tempted to belittle others to make yourself feel OK. You may be tempted to completely resign yourself from everything because you do not feel worthy to do it. Jesus responded to this temptation by saying ‘Do not put your God to the test’. God created you with specific strengths that are needed in this world. If you are in the will of God and are in relationship with him, there is no need to try make things happen yourself. And there is no precedent for giving up on anything God has given you to steward in your life.
The Temptation To Use Shortcut
Let’s be honest. Life is hard. You may have big dreams, but your reality hardly ever lines up with where you want to be. It’s in moments of frustration like this that shortcuts normally appear. The temptation to do that one dirty deal. The temptation jump the queue at home affairs or to grab every opportunity you can get without any consideration of the consequences can consume you.
Jesus was offered the whole world before he had to die for it. He could have had it all without shedding one drop of blood. All he had to do was bow down to Satan once. But he responded by saying, ‘Leave me! For it is written: Worship the Lord and serve Him only’. You never gain authority by submitting to someone (or something) with less authority. You may be tempted to bow down to popular thought or certain opinions. Standing your ground can be extremely hard, but knowing the God is the ultimate authority in your life will carry you through.
I am sure you can identify with all three types of temptation. You may feel like you’re doing well. You may be stuck in a cycle of shame and condemnation. You may deny that temptation is having a negative effect on you. But I am convinced that the only way we can move forward and stand strong when the temptation to ruin yourself comes along is if you have a relationship with Jesus Christ. If you need help and want to find out more, click on the link below.