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Enduring Temptation
Today's reading has an interesting statement about temptation: we will never be tempted beyond what we can bear. Here's what a few of the commentaries have to say about it:
"We never have to give in to temptation; no one “makes” us sin. Certain factors may generate greater temptations for some individuals than for others, as with the exponential increase in dysfunctional families in our day, but ultimately we are accountable for our own free choices. And for believers, one of those choices remains to accept God’s escape-hatch from sin. Our culture would rewrite the end of verse 13 so that it said, “But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you don’t have to stand up under it any longer,” but that of course is the opposite of what God actually inspired Paul to write." [1] (emphasis mine)
A good distinction. The passage says "that you may be able to ENDURE it", not that it will be taken away. We CAN endure through the temptation until we can find a way to "flee" from it (2 Timothy 2:22). Fleeing sin take discipline and practice though:
"It will take self-discipline to look for that “way out” even in the middle of the temptation and then to take it when it is found. The way out is seldom easy and often requires support from others. One of the God-given ways of escape from temptation is common sense. If a believer knows that he will be tempted in certain situations, then he should stay away from them. Another way out of temptation is through Christian friends. Instead of trying to deal with temptation alone, a believer can explain her dilemma to a close Christian friend and ask for support. This friend can pray, hold the person accountable, and give valuable insights and advice." [2] (emphasis mine)
The key to understanding how to flee sin is to not wait. Make a battle plan now. LABC gives this summary of the passage and its implications for life:
"In a culture filled with moral depravity and sin-inducing pressures, Paul gave strong encouragement to the Corinthians about temptation. He said:
• Wrong desires and temptations happen to everyone, so don’t feel as though you have been singled out.
• Others have resisted temptation and so can you.
• Any temptation can be resisted because God will help you resist it.
God gives you a way to resist temptation by helping you
• recognize people and situations that give you trouble;
• run from anything you know is wrong;
• choose to do only what is right;
• pray for his help; and
• seek friends who love God and can support you when you are tempted.
Running from a tempting situation is your first step on the way to victory (see 2 Timothy 2:22)." [3]
But here's the problem that I see: doesn't that make this all so depressing? If God never tempts me more than I can bear, why do I mess up so often? We need to place our faith in the right place. That place is not in ourselves, but in God's promise. We know we can trust God and that gives us the strength to get through:
"The comfort of this message finds its source in the apostle’s proclamation of the faithfulness of God. The believer’s confidence in the face of temptation rests not in his own finite abilities but in the promise of the faithful God that nothing he encounters will be too much for him to handle. Through the apostle’s words God assures the believer that the threats to his faith will be in proportion to his ability to meet them." [4] (emphasis mine)
AMEN to that! If I focus solely on my discipline or awesomeness to get out of temptation, I'm in big trouble. The focus here is on the promise of God: we ARE able to endure it and can pray to God to give us the strength to hold out. There is no need for despair, but for hope and for faith in the promise of a powerful God that has redeemed us.
Enduring Temptation
Today's reading has an interesting statement about temptation: we will never be tempted beyond what we can bear. Here's what a few of the commentaries have to say about it:
"We never have to give in to temptation; no one “makes” us sin. Certain factors may generate greater temptations for some individuals than for others, as with the exponential increase in dysfunctional families in our day, but ultimately we are accountable for our own free choices. And for believers, one of those choices remains to accept God’s escape-hatch from sin. Our culture would rewrite the end of verse 13 so that it said, “But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you don’t have to stand up under it any longer,” but that of course is the opposite of what God actually inspired Paul to write." [1] (emphasis mine)
A good distinction. The passage says "that you may be able to ENDURE it", not that it will be taken away. We CAN endure through the temptation until we can find a way to "flee" from it (2 Timothy 2:22). Fleeing sin take discipline and practice though:
"It will take self-discipline to look for that “way out” even in the middle of the temptation and then to take it when it is found. The way out is seldom easy and often requires support from others. One of the God-given ways of escape from temptation is common sense. If a believer knows that he will be tempted in certain situations, then he should stay away from them. Another way out of temptation is through Christian friends. Instead of trying to deal with temptation alone, a believer can explain her dilemma to a close Christian friend and ask for support. This friend can pray, hold the person accountable, and give valuable insights and advice." [2] (emphasis mine)
The key to understanding how to flee sin is to not wait. Make a battle plan now. LABC gives this summary of the passage and its implications for life:
"In a culture filled with moral depravity and sin-inducing pressures, Paul gave strong encouragement to the Corinthians about temptation. He said:
• Wrong desires and temptations happen to everyone, so don’t feel as though you have been singled out.
• Others have resisted temptation and so can you.
• Any temptation can be resisted because God will help you resist it.
God gives you a way to resist temptation by helping you
• recognize people and situations that give you trouble;
• run from anything you know is wrong;
• choose to do only what is right;
• pray for his help; and
• seek friends who love God and can support you when you are tempted.
Running from a tempting situation is your first step on the way to victory (see 2 Timothy 2:22)." [3]
But here's the problem that I see: doesn't that make this all so depressing? If God never tempts me more than I can bear, why do I mess up so often? We need to place our faith in the right place. That place is not in ourselves, but in God's promise. We know we can trust God and that gives us the strength to get through:
"The comfort of this message finds its source in the apostle’s proclamation of the faithfulness of God. The believer’s confidence in the face of temptation rests not in his own finite abilities but in the promise of the faithful God that nothing he encounters will be too much for him to handle. Through the apostle’s words God assures the believer that the threats to his faith will be in proportion to his ability to meet them." [4] (emphasis mine)
AMEN to that! If I focus solely on my discipline or awesomeness to get out of temptation, I'm in big trouble. The focus here is on the promise of God: we ARE able to endure it and can pray to God to give us the strength to hold out. There is no need for despair, but for hope and for faith in the promise of a powerful God that has redeemed us.
[1] Craig Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994), 199.
[2] Bruce B. Barton and Grant R. Osborne, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1999), 142-43.
[3] Ibid, 143.
[4] David M. Ciocchi, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society Volume 35, 4 (Lynchburg, VA: The Evangelical Theological Society, 1992), 470.
[2] Bruce B. Barton and Grant R. Osborne, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1999), 142-43.
[3] Ibid, 143.
[4] David M. Ciocchi, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society Volume 35, 4 (Lynchburg, VA: The Evangelical Theological Society, 1992), 470.
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