In 1 Corinthians 10, Apostle Paul gives a clear warning to all believers from Israel’s past. God’s chosen people, whom He had brought out of slavery in Egypt and led through the wilderness with His divine protection and provisions, resorted to idolatry and angered God. This is quoted as an example to us today to get rid of our complacent attitude.

 

Temptation is common to man, and while temptation in itself is not a sin, succumbing to it leads to sin. Paul explains this struggle of the flesh against the spirit in Romans 7:22-23 NLT, " I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.” Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44) provokes temptations; but also the weakness of the human flesh can lead to temptations. Often we ourselves are our worst enemy. In the Garden of Eden, though Satan put a thought in Eve’s mind that to eat the forbidden fruit is okay, but it was Eve who acted on that thought leading herself and Adam to sin (Genesis 3).

 

In 1 Corinthians 10, the Apostle Paul reveals how we get entangled in temptation and how to overcome it.


 

1. Complacent Attitude: “If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Cor. 10:12). Let us not get complacent in our Christian walk. It is so easy to think that we are strong enough to face challenges in our own strength, but those are the moments when we are most vulnerable to the enemy’s attack. We need to walk constantly with the Lord, getting rid of complacency.

    

2. Common to All: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind’ (1 Cor. 10:13). Very often, when situations are too overwhelming, we feel that no one else has faced what we are going through, but the Word of God says that you are not alone. Everyone faces hurdles and complex situations in life. God has placed us in a fellowship where our brothers and sisters in Christ can pray with us, minister to us and encourage us when we face the giants.
    

3. A Sense of Abandonment: “And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” (1 Cor. 10:13). When temptations come, we feel that God has abandoned us. This is because we separate ourselves from God’s presence. God will not forsake us. If in our weakness we seek the Lord, He will strengthen us to overcome the trial.
    

4. A Matter of Choice: “… He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Cor. 10:14). During trials, it is human to feel insecure. It is easy to fall in those weak moments, but we have a choice. Genesis 39 describes how Joseph fled the scene, when he was tempted by Potiphar’s wife. He made a choice to do right by God and not fall into sin. However painful it may be, we must make a conscious decision to seek the Lord during testing times, and He will show us a way out.

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Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness with three human desires – basic provisions, power and possessions. But Jesus countered them all with the Word of God and Satan left him (Matthew 4). James 4:7 says: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” "To resist and overcome temptations we need to be empowered daily in the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit!

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Let us pray:
Lord Almighty, “Keep us from sinning when we are tempted.
Save us from the evil one.”

Matthew 6:13 NIRV