No Reason to be Enticed

March 23, 2009

Today's Reading: Deuteronomy 11-12 and Proverbs 23

I like how the Bible states very clearly that: “be careful, that you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them”.

It is true that it is easy to be ensnared by temptation. It’s like one of those box traps with the stick and the string that is attached. I wish that temptation wasn’t so tempting sometimes.

Is it any wonder that Proverbs warns that we must be wary of giving in to sin? For example, when you dine with a ruler, it is necessary to put a knife to your throat so you do not overeat.

In some manner, it is necessary to approach life in that way. Ask yourself how much secular radio is good to listen to, and how much movies are worth watching? The answer should be no more than really necessary.

The issue with temptation is we are the ones who give in to it, so we have no one to blame but ourselves if we fall prey to it. We could blame the bait for being so charming, but in the end, we should have known better. What kind of fish would bite bait if they knew there was a hook in it? The only difference between a caught fish and someone who gives into temptation is the person who gives in to temptation knows there is a hook there, and bites anyway.

If have this view when it comes to temptation. Yes, it looks good. There is no point in ignoring that fact. Resisting temptation by calling it other than enticing is only living in a state of denial.

However, we should call it something for which we can overcome. Sometimes I see a high height and want to just dive off, and the thing that keeps me from doing that is the sudden stop. In short, the thrill of freefall isn’t worth the death blow at the end.

Temptation. It isn’t that hard to handle. Let us not make it harder, otherwise, we give it power that it doesn’t have.

Could we just forget about it? Can we, please? We have this Godly power to overcome it, and even if we didn’t, a redeemed mind can conquer this matter. Am I oversimplifying the situation. I hope so. I really do. There just isn’t a reason to give in to temptation of any kind. I don’t want to come up with any “special scenarios” either.