They Said It Better Than Me: Temptation

In a recent men's study on Proverbs 6, we dealt with the issue of temptation. In preparation, I came across a number of statements about temptation that were particularly helpful:

"When a man is confronted with the alluring temptation, he sees only the attractiveness of the desired object; only when his will has sanctioned the performance of the sinful act do the tragic consequences come into operation. We are free to choose, but not free to choose the consequences of our choice, for those are determined by the eternal purpose and laws of God." [D. Edmond Hiebert, The Epistle of James]

"Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is." [C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity]

"There is no spiritual duty, nothing godly you can set yourself to, in which you won't feel the wind of sin's resistance in your face." [Kris Lundgaard, The Enemy Within]

"Avoid idleness, and fill up all the spaces of thy time with severe and useful employment: for lust easily creeps in at those emptinesses where the soul is unemployed and the body is at ease; no easy, healthful, idle person was ever chaste if he could be tempted; but of all employments, bodily labor is the most useful, and of the greatest benefit for driving the Devil." [Jeremy Taylor]

"We are only poor for this reason, that we do not know our riches in Christ. In time of temptation, believe Christ rather than the devil. Believe truth from truth itself. Hearken not to a liar, an enemy and a murderer." [Richard Sibbes, The Bruised Reed]

"Temptation stirs the blood and influences the imagination. If we were revolted by it, it would not be temptation at all. Usually, though, temptation doesn't seem very bad, so we play with it, flirt with it, and invite it into our lives. When we pray about sins, it's not temptation that bothers us. It's the consequences of our disobedience that we want removed.…Only God can make us see sin for what it is. If temptation brought chains to bind us, we would resist it on our own. Instead, it brings flowers and perfume and offers life and good cheer, good times and enlargement. It bribes us with wealth and popularity and entices us with promises of prosperity and unbounded freedom. Only God can keep us from its charms." [Haddon Robinson, What Jesus Said About Successful Living]