Battling Temptation
Yesterday we reflected on the Temptations of Jesus. Paul’s letter to the Hebrews teaches us that Jesus is able to help us in our temptation not only because He is the Savior but also because He has been through temptation – He knows what we go through – He understands.
So what is temptation, why does God allow it and what is our strategy to defeat it? That’s the point of our meditation today.
one
First off, it is not a sin to be tempted. Temptation is an attraction to some disordered thing – to lust, gossip, lie, get back at others, have power over others for power sake, indulge in pleasure for pleasure’s sake, be lazy, not believe, contracept, cohabitate, look at porn, skip Mass without a legitimate reason, ect. We can be tempted to all of these without sinning. We sin when we consent, give in, say yes to the temptation in thought, word, action or omission.
Temptation comes from the world, meaning society, the flesh, meaning our wounded human nature, especially our desires that are inclined toward evil and away from good, and temptation comes from the devil who seeks to destroy us in hell.
Why is a temptation a big deal? Because if we do not resist and we give in to sinful actions, then we turn those actions into sinful habits. Sin and sinful habits result in an aversion for God and the things of God. If we have an aversion to God, then we won’t desire God. If we live and die with an aversion to God then we will reject Him. I mean, hey, if you had an aversion to prayer and doing God’s will on earth and that becomes second nature to you – then that’s who you become. God sends no one to hell. People choose it because they have an aversion to God and the things of God. So the more we choose sin, the more our aversion grows which if unchecked is deadly.
two
If temptation is so dangerous, then why does God allow it? Certainly, because we have free will but there are two other reasons: one – so that I can really love God for God’s sake rather than the benefits I receive from Him; and two – so that I can grow in virtue – the excellence of the human person.
Let’s take the first one. In the book of Job, Satan approaches God and accuses Job of loving God only because God gives Job so many blessings. God if you allow things to become difficult for Job you will see Job does not love you – he only loves himself and he will curse you. So what does God allow – he allows difficulties, temptations and sufferings into Job’s life. What does Job do – well at first he is confused, he is tempted, but he chooses to love God even when he gets no pleasurable benefit. Job chooses to love God for God’s sake rather than his own pleasure.
Every time we are tempted to sin, the choice is put before us – will I choose to love God or reject him right here with this petty fleeting sin and pleasure.
Wow – what if we could keep that in mind every time we are tempted: In this temptation – in this attraction to some disordered thing – what will I choose – the will of God or my disordered desires?
three
The second reason God allows temptations is so that we can grow in virtue. Virtue is the perfection of the human person. God our Father wants his children to grow out of our selfness, pride, vanity, envy, sloth, anger, greed, gluttony, lust etc. We grow when we find ourselves in situations that call for the opposite virtues – humility, good-will, magnanimity, meekness, generosity, temperance, chastity and charity. God will give us all the grace we need but we must do our part. We must choose to practice the virtue when our feelings and desires are pushing us strongly to sin. If we resist the disordered desire and choose the right action when we don’t feel like it – we grow in maturity.
four
Two Strategies to Overcome Temptation
I. Practice saying no to legitimate desires so that when illegitimate or evil desires come along you build up your resistance muscles. We call this mortification. Mortification is resistance training. We can practice mortification by saying no to the second helping of food when your satisfied; choosing water when you prefer a coke; resisting the desire to stay up for no good reason and go to bed on time and then get up on time when you have the desire to stay in bed; choose to talk with someone or pray or exercise or read a good book when you want to veg in entertainment. Practice saying no to legitimate desires to strengthen the soul to resist evil desires.
II. Avoid temptation - We must avoid the near occasion of sin
We must prepare by resistance training and choosing good, but we must also not put ourselves into the occasions of temptation. We must prepare for war but not seek it out. To do this we need to be aware of our vices, weaknesses and common sins. Then aware of what situations lead to sin and avoid those situations. If a certain person causes us to gossip – avoid that person. If a situation or routine leads to pornography – break that routine at the start. The devil is like a chained dog. As long as you don’t go to close you are less likely to be bitten. Know the situations in which you fall into sin and make the choice to stay away from them the best you can.
five
What do we do when temptation hits?
Use the name of Jesus – because His name means salvation and you cannot defeat temptation on your own. When you are in the storm of temptation, immediately call out to Jesus. When Peter was sinking in the sea of Galilee in the storm he called out, Jesus, Master, save me. And Jesus stretched forth his might hand and saved Peter from drowning.
When we are drowning in temptation – call out – “Jesus, Master, save me.” And keep calling until the storm subsides.