Avoid Temptations!

Avoid Temptations!

James says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations . . . .” Jas. 1:2. Jesus says, “‘Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.’” Luke 22:46. It seems as if they contradict each other. James thinks it best to come into temptations, whereas Jesus thinks it best to avoid them.

Jesus says, “Why do you sleep?” You can end up in many a temptation by sleeping instead of being awake, and John says, “But he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” 1 John 5:18-19.

Seeing that the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one, we understand how badly things can turn out if we sleep. We must watch and pray so that the wicked one will not touch us.

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Cor. 10:12. People who think they stand can subject themselves to many temptations. This is not walking in fear but being presumptuous. The person who is lowly in his own eyes lives in fear, and for him it is fitting to pray as Jesus has taught us: “Do not lead us into temptation.”

Nevertheless, who can live in the world without being tempted? Therefore James’ words are so apt: “Count it all joy when you fall into various temptations.” The result will be only victory for those who watch and pray and live in fear, no matter what situation they are in. “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able [to bear] . . . .” 1 Cor. 10:13. God is faithful! He follows along carefully. He is zealous for our salvation, and He is precise in what He metes out to us in our situations so that we can be saved and receive a proven mind and have perfect works. Therefore we shall count it all joy—all the things that come our way; it is a show of confidence on His part for our salvation. But if I subject myself to something it is self-confidence and not confidence in God.

When we do God’s will, we can be subjected to many things from the world such as hatred and scorn, but it is all according to God’s weight and measure; so to draw back from doing God’s will in order to avoid temptations is unbelief and a fall. Yet in all our circumstances we need to have this exhortation vividly before us in all humility: “Considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” Gal. 6:1.