Tempted

The sunlight twinkled off the surface of a shiny object just ahead of me. A few more blocks and I’ll head for home. The pace of my morning run drew me closer to the sparkling something which caught my eye—I stopped and picked it up. Hmmm. A quarter.

Looking around, a young boy began to yell at me. “Hey lady, did you see my quarter?”

“Yes!” I smiled at this cute little guy. “It’s right here.”

He held out his hand. Placing the coin in his palm I advised, “Hold on tight now…”

He turned to run back toward his destination and looked back. “Thanks lady!”

“No problem. Zip up your pockets!” He waved and hurried off, happy and relieved.

I’m tempted to believe the best about people, inclined to think that in most circumstances, the great majority of us will do the right thing. Funny, but when the word tempted is used we usually think of that which lures us into doing something we might later regret, as in the promise of a desire fulfilled. We focus on immediate gratification and lose sight of long term consequences.

The word tempted means more than to be lured. Other synonyms are inclined, apt, and likely. Said another way, temptation is a broader category in human tendency which includes our inclinations, what’s a likely choice for us, as well as those things we are apt to do.

Temptation is more than eating chocolate.

Temptation is the mechanism by which the devil draws upon our inclinations and uses them to his advantage and our destruction. For example, one with a predisposition for shyness is vulnerable to isolation. Someone who is apt to worry is open to Satan’s lie that stewing over circumstances beyond our control will help.

No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. —1 Corinthians 10:13 (NRSV)

Each of us is wired differently, with our own set of tendencies. God knows this. He made us! Let us not forget that the devil also understands and is more than pleased to use them against us. But the blessed promise we find in this passage in 1 Corinthians is that our loving, gracious God will not permit us to be tempted beyond our strength. Most importantly, God works as an active agent of change, rescue and redemption. God provides a way through, a way out and a way to move passed our present struggle, trial, and temptation—living in God’s strength in spite of our individual inclination.

It was only a quarter. But in the grander scheme of God’s economy the coin is priceless. An inclination to keep it is a temptation to steal. Returning it to its rightful owner is a great victory in God’s eyes. All glory and praise to our gracious God! In Jesus Name, Amen.