[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during November 2026]
For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions – is not from the Father but is from the world.
1 John 2 v16 [ESVUK]
Recent news headlines have shown us that neither great wealth nor great fame can protect a man from temptation. As we noted last week, great blessings can bring with them great risks. For some people the risk is part of the experience: the possibility of losing or being found out adds to the spice of the adventure.
This is not a modern phenomenon; in 63AD the apostle Paul warned his protege Timothy about the risks of inappropriate ambitions:
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
1 Timothy 6 v9 [ESVUK]
Some 1100 years earlier Agur, an otherwise unknown contributor to the book of Proverbs, warned about the perils of both riches and poverty; he wrote a prayer that we would do well to adopt for ourselves.
Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.
Proverbs 30 v8–9 [ESVUK]
Are you satisfied with your ‘daily bread’ or do you want more?
Any reflection on the subject of temptation would be incomplete without considering the experience that Jesus had immediately after his baptism.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Matthew 4 v1 [ESVUK]
The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us that it was as a result of his own experience that Jesus recommended that we pray for his Father’s protection.[1]
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Matthew 6 v13 [ESVUK]
We cannot realistically expect to live a life without facing temptations of one type or another. Once again the apostle Paul offers some relevant assurance:
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10 v13 [ESVUK]
Have you found that way of escape?
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer!
Joseph M Scriven (1855)
References:
[1] Hebrews 2:18
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Last week’s reflection: Great Blessings, Great Risk
Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © Steve Humphreys