Photo by inma · santiago on Unsplash
Halloween candy is on sale this week. But before you snatch up your favorite treat, don’t let temptation trick you.
We’ve given Eve a hard time for eating the forbidden fruit, but if it smelled like chocolate, I understand. Somebody knew women who like pottery, love chocolate and placed my favorite bar among housewares. I picked up the 14.1-ounce Swiss Toblerone bar and remembered its smooth taste. “I’ll buy it for you,” my friend said.
“No, thank you!” I said and dropped it. But temptation had taken root. I ambled back to look at the fat grams, 12 grams per serving. Ridiculous. Who stops at one serving? I walked away again.
I discovered this smooth chocolate on a mission trip in Europe. The magic of the Alps wafted through my mind. In those days, you couldn’t find Toblerones in America. I could save it for when I really wanted chocolate.
The check-out clerk said he had never seen such a big chocolate bar. Good, it must be fresh.
How to Protect Yourself from Temptation
Consider the following when you’re tempted.
Temptations are common. It’s not a sin to be tempted. Enticements to over-spend, to partake of substances we should avoid, or to cave into controlling people or emotions daily spread their nets for us (1 Cor. 10:13). They show up when we least expect it (chocolate in the housewares aisle!). Even Jesus experienced temptation, but He never succumbed.
Temptations lie to us. The Bible calls destructive longings “deceitful desires” (Ephes. 4:22). They make promises they can’t keep. The guy at work promises love but delivers heartache. The debt from overspending outlasts the pleasure of the purchase. They promise, “One time won’t hurt. You’re smart enough to know when to quit.” But the Bible warns of sin’s destructive and addictive nature (James 1:15; Jn. 8:34).
[bctt tweet=”The Bible calls destructive longings “deceitful desires” (Ephes. 4:22). They make promises they can’t keep. #temptation, #RechargeWednesday” username=”PatHolbrook”]
You already know how chocolate works. One serving, the size of a flat dollar bill, puffs up like a sponge in water to the size of a walrus. Every gram of chocolate expands into ten pounds of human fat. If someone can figure out how to pack a thousand photos into a thumb drive, you’d think they could keep chocolate from expanding your hips.
Seriously, having a large bar of my favorite chocolate in my home only tormented me. Wrestling with chocolate reminded me of how consuming temptation can be. To invite temptation in embroils you in a battle you’ll likely lose or wear yourself out fighting.
God provides good gifts for us to enjoy. His gifts aren’t disguised traps that enslave us or deaden our spiritual senses (Rom. 6:16). Saying no may be the most liberating thing we do.
Neil Anderson once said heaven is a place with no bad options. Until then, when temptation knocks, let’s run to the throne of grace. Our High Priest stands ready and able to rescue us from every temptation—and to restore us when we fall.
No matter where our particular weakness lies, I learned avoiding temptation is always better than battling it. Single serving size candy bars work better for me!
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV).
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[bctt tweet=”LINKUP is open! This week, my friend @DebbieWWilson reminds us that there is a way for Christians to guarantee victory over temptations. Join us and share your blog!” username=”PatHolbrook”]
Yes–I have wrestled with chocolate temptation many times, as well as others! I sometimes pray for God to help me look for the way of escape He promised rather than excuses to indulge which I always regret afterward.
Barbara, you’re so right, the way of escape is better than living with the inevitable regret that comes from the wrong indulgences.
I love this: “heaven is a place with no bad options.” ha. You’re right that it’s better to avoid temptation altogether than have to struggle with it. When that’s possible, it’s the smart choice to make. I keep a lot of chocolate in my house so I know the struggle. 🙂
Lisa, some treats don’t bother me, but others won’t give me any peace!
A place with no bad options –hallelujah! I look forward to the hope of being free from the very presence of evil.
Me too, Michele!
“Saying no may be the most liberating thing you do.” So true, Debbie! Chocolate is tempting for me too, and a good illustration of how temptation works in other areas of life. It’s so good to say no from the start!
Jesus understood that when He taught us to pray. I had fun with this, but it really is a serious subject on so many fronts. Thanks, Bethany.
Debbie, enjoyed this creative and fun post about a serious issue. Talking about temptation is something most of us avoid like the plague. But if we avoided the temptation itself like the plague, then we’d be much better off. Loved it and liked the Neil Anderson quote.
Karen, that would be a good blog title, Avoiding Temptation Like COVID! 🙂
thanks for sharing but i missed it 🙁
Thanks for hosting and for the awesome reminder that God gives us good things to enjoy. Love this!
Thanks, Jed. God’s good gifts are good through and through and don’t hide dangerous hooks behind an appealing facade.
I sent the 1 Corinthians verse to some loved ones as a prayer for them this morning!
Awesome to see God reinforce His hope. Thanks, Lauren.
Thank you, Debbie for such a great post on temptation! Alas, I do not struggle with chocolate temptation, but fall prey to other “vices”. I enjoyed your playful approach to a serious subject and the great practical advice that temptations are common and full of lies!
Thanks, Donna. Those temptations do lie to us.
These are great insights to temptation Debbie. One of my kids and I have been talking about the deceit a lot recently. It’s so important to learn! Thanks for sharing this. And thanks for hosting Patricia!
That’s wonderful you are helping your children recognize and deal with deception, Marielle. Thanks for reading!