choosing temptation?

The sign read...

Shirts. $15.

It's safe to say that I'm not obsessed with fashion, but to say that I couldn't care less about how I look wouldn't exactly be true either!

At any rate, I like a good deal as I was walking past this particular clothing store, I almost popped in. I didn't, though. I turned up my nose (in anti-materialism smugness) and strided past. I was quite proud of myself for not visiting the store... until my thoughts took me further.

Sure, I had chosen not to enter the store for some quite good reasons. One of those being that I have enough shirts that are wear-able, so I didn't really need another one. But as I thought about my actions further, it became clear to me that the most motivating reason for my recent 'financial carefulness' was none other than the fact that I had realised my need to save money for my upcoming wedding, honeymoon and receptions!

It turned out that my choice wasn't driven by the pious, super-spiritual, anti-commercial motivation that had made me feel like I was so much better than everyone else...

This got me thinking about temptation.

A popular church leader has rightly said that we can't say we are faithful unless we've ever been tempted to be unfaithful. We can't say that we have integrity unless we've ever had the opportunity to lie and resisted. We've no right to call ourselves patient unless we've gone through stressful circumstances, etc.

Don't worry. I'm not saying that we should go looking for temptation.

I am saying, however, that temptation is a part of God's plan.

Yep.

God Himself promises never to tempt us (see James 1:13), and we always have a way to 'escape' when we are tempted - which sometimes means not allowing or 'fleeing' from even the opportunity to be tempted (see 1 Corinthians 10:13). However, He most certainly allows and uses temptation in our lives (see the entire book of Job). Actually, we are all tempted. So was Jesus (though He didn't give in... see Hebrews 4:15)

I've been reminded that it's really just prideful of me to be so proud of my little miniature 'victories.' Would I be so satisfied with my wardrobe if I had plenty of money in the checking account?
I've also been reminded that when we are careless with our choices (where we go, what we do, when we do it, what we view, who we spend time with, etc.), we shouldn't be amazed that we often find ourselves giving in to temptation!!!

"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." - 1 Corinthians 10:12 (emphasis mine)