TEMPTED
Have you ever been tempted? Of course you have. Everyone has, in some way or another, been under temptation at one time or another in their life. If you watch any commercials or read any ads, temptation is often involved. In fact, attempting to cause a degree of temptation is probably at the basis of all commercials. On the other hand, many people as well are involved in tempting others in various ways, from eating differently to trying to entice others into taking drugs.
People are tempted all the time in insidious ways. Most of these temptations develop in three general patterns: either into dealing with one’s well being, allaying one’s fear, or promoting one’s pride. Furthermore, in dealing with these, one often ends up trying to make deals with God or trying essentially to tempt Him.In times of need, especially, we often try to make promises to God, make a bargain with Him, or in other ways try to tempt Him into doing what our wish(es) or fulfilling our need(s). We often try to test Him, as well thinking that no matter what we do, He will protect us and keep us from harm. Doing foolish actions to test this idea is just another way to try and tempt God.
But scripture tells us that “…God cannot be tempted…nor does He Himself tempt anyone” (James 1:13). This was illustrated in Matthew when Satan tried to tempt God (as Christ) after His 40 day fast in the desert. He was hungry, and so Satan appealed to His sense of well-being and challenged Him to “…command that these stones become bread” (Matthew 4:3). Satan was saying that Jesus’ well-being and needs would be well served by using His abilities, but Jesus replied by saying: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). He was saying that a man’s well-being and physical needs were less important than listening to and following God. To really live, you need God’s word.
Then Satan appealed to Christ’s possible fear. He took Jesus to the temple and said: “…throw Yourself down…and He (God) shall give His angels charge over you, and in their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone” (Matthew 4:6). We often act the way we do out of fear and the worrying about what might happen ends up being one of mankind’s greatest difficulties. Because of this we spend so much time and money being tempted to do things to excess: buying extra insurance, trying to maintain and regain our youth, working on our physical appearance, etc. Overall it’s a battle we can’t win. When we are so tempted, it might be wise to recall Jesus’ response to Satan - “You shall not tempt the Lord your God” (Matthew 4:7). When we are tempted to excess to allay our fears, we should keep this reply in mind.
Finally, Satan took Jesus to a very high mountain and “…showed Him all the kingdom of the world, and their glory. And he said to Him ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me’” (Matthew 4:8-9). In addition to revealing Satan’s dominance of this world, it was an appeal to mankind’s pride in wanting control. How often is man tempted to do whatever he can to obtain power, prestige, wealth, or whatever to satisfy the desire of pride? Jesus replied and said not to worship pride but “…You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve” (Matthew 4:10). After all, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:35).
Jesus was tempted in all the ways man is usually tempted and He overcame them all by using Scripture as His defence. Perhaps when we are tempted in areas of self-preservation, or by fear or in matters of pride, doing the same is something we should more seriously think about.
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