Overcoming Temptation
Many believers have a lot of problems overcoming temptations in their lives. It could be the temptation to eat too much or the temptation to lie. Some have problems with pornography or anger. Satan is so good at tempting us at the point of our weakness. He knows just how to get to our most vulnerable areas, and he leads us to sin. David learned one of the main keys to overcoming temptation. (I Samuel 26:23) I believe it will help all of us, if we will consider what he said.
When David had the second opportunity to kill King Saul who was seeking to take his life, he refrained from causing him any harm.He could have rationalized killing Saul as being self defense, and therefore, not murder. He did not think that way, because he trusted God to repay the righteousness and faithfulness of any person who followed God's will and did not give in to temptation. He knew God had appointed Saul as king by the anointing of Samuel, so if God wanted to end his reign or his life, He could, but it was not for David to take into his own hands.
Therefore, the key to overcoming temptation are trusting that God will reward your righteousness and faithfulness, while trusting Him to work out His will for your life. I think we focus too much on the fact that He does punish our unrighteousness and our unfaithfulness. However, when we go ahead and give in to temptation one time, it becomes easier to give in again and again. That is why we must fully trust that no matter how tempting something might be for us, God's reward for doing right will be so much better than anything we would get out of sin. Then, we trust Him to work out His will for us, while we do what is right, instead of thinking we know best for us, and trying to work it out ourselves. Then, it is much easier to say no to temptation.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 27-29.
When David had the second opportunity to kill King Saul who was seeking to take his life, he refrained from causing him any harm.He could have rationalized killing Saul as being self defense, and therefore, not murder. He did not think that way, because he trusted God to repay the righteousness and faithfulness of any person who followed God's will and did not give in to temptation. He knew God had appointed Saul as king by the anointing of Samuel, so if God wanted to end his reign or his life, He could, but it was not for David to take into his own hands.
Therefore, the key to overcoming temptation are trusting that God will reward your righteousness and faithfulness, while trusting Him to work out His will for your life. I think we focus too much on the fact that He does punish our unrighteousness and our unfaithfulness. However, when we go ahead and give in to temptation one time, it becomes easier to give in again and again. That is why we must fully trust that no matter how tempting something might be for us, God's reward for doing right will be so much better than anything we would get out of sin. Then, we trust Him to work out His will for us, while we do what is right, instead of thinking we know best for us, and trying to work it out ourselves. Then, it is much easier to say no to temptation.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 27-29.