All of us have been tempted to sin, including Jesus himself (Matthew 4). And while temptation itself isn't a sin, it is sinful to give into the temptation. So how can we keep ourselves from giving in? And what is temptation really anyway?
Andy Stanley put it this way: Temptation is the desire to meet a legitimate need or want, in an illegitimate, improper, or irresponsible way. And I think that's a pretty good definition!
The problem is that when you give into temptation, it's always a bigger deal than just that one act. It may mean that you'll now need to lie in order to keep concealed what you did. And of course, it's not really a secret anyway since God sees everything! Which brings me to the main point...
When you give into temptation, you are essentially saying that you do not trust that God is able to supply all of your needs, so you're going to take it into your own hands to get what you need or want.
Now what would you say to someone who told you that they know better than God what they need, and that since they have the power to get what they need themselves, since God isn't providing it for them, that they don't even really need God anyway? You'd probably think that they've decided to become an atheist. And yet, that's exactly what we're saying indirectly when we give into the temptation to sin.
God is the maker of the Heavens and the Earth, the Alpha and Omega, the omnipresent, omnipotent, source of everything in existence who is the definition of power and love and all that is good. He said he will supply for all of our needs (Phil 4:19), and whatever He says is true. So why on Earth (or anywhere else) would you think that he can't or won't? Let alone the fact that it's completely ridiculous to think that you know better than God what you need.
And while it's true that God doesn't always give us what we want, it's a good thing He doesn't. Because we often want things that we don't need, and that will result in something negative happening to us or others as a result. We're just not far enough away from the canvas of our lives and the even larger masterpiece in process to see the "big picture." All we can see and are so concerned about often times are the few brushstrokes in front of us. And when we decide to start painting ourselves instead of letting the master do the work, we cause more harm than good - and He has to fix it later.
Now I know we are all human. And as such, we are not perfect. We are prone to poor judgement and weakness when it comes to issues of sin. But when you have the Holy Spirit within you, He gives you the extra strength you need to overcome those factors.You just have to be willing to let him, which means you have to be completely and utterly dependent on God. And that's a very hard thing for anyone to do. This is why it's so important to renew your faith in God and your reliance on Him every day!
But here's a tip to help you in the times when you are being tempted. As soon as you realize you're being tempted to sin, pause. Think about this concept. Remember that God is willing and able, even eager, to meet all of your needs. And if you give into the temptation, you will be hurting your relationship with God because you're telling him that you don't trust him. Also remember that giving in to the temptation may also impact your family, your friends, and who knows how many other people in a negative way. It's always bigger than just the temptation before you!
Then decide what is more important to you. Is it more important to you to have what you want right then and give into the temptation? Or is it more important to keep your relationship with God strong, to protect your family and friends, and to grow your faith and become a stronger and more capable man or woman of God? Then act on that decision with the knowledge that you consciously chose it, and all that comes with it.
