Just say no? Dealing with temptation
 Proverbs 7


There are some things in this world that are worth getting angry about.

The one I'm thinking of right now is anti-personnel land mines. Mines like this have become the world's largest cause of war related injuries. And they keep on killing and maiming long after wars are over and peace treaties are signed. About 35 percent of the land in Afghanistan is unusable because of land mines. Worldwide there are about 2000 new victims every month.

Some of the most terrible mines were deliberately made to be attractive to children -- they are brightly colored, shiny. They are called butterfly mines and children find them irresistible. In Afghanistan there are literally hundreds of children who lost an arm or a leg, or their eyesight because they saw a what looked like a toy and ran to pick it up. And in a flash it exploded -- taking an arm or a leg or a life with it.

What makes butterfly mines so appalling is that they are so deceptive. They deliberately disguise enormous destructive power in an attractive, alluring package.

I want to talk today about the spiritual equivalent of butterfly mines. As I make my way through life the path is littered with attractive looking options -- toys that I would love to pick up. They look shiny and attractive and fun, but if I go after them, they will destroy me. Some of them don't explode right away, they are timed devices -- we can play with them for awhile and not notice anything -- but then suddenly they will explode on us.

What I'm talking about is the problem of temptation. Two characteristics define temptation: Desirability -- we want to be able to have what it offers -- and destructive power -- it will destroy us if we let it. If it there was no attraction, no allure, there would be no problem -- we wouldn't be tempted. And if there was no real danger, then there would be no reason to stay away.

Not surprisingly, the book of Proverbs is full of warnings about temptation. Over and over again Proverbs warns us not to be taken in by the allure of folly and the glittering attractiveness of evil. The theme verse on temptation is found in Proverbs 14:23 -- a verse many of you will know -- "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (Proverbs focuses on two particular areas of particular danger to us: sex and substance abuse. Amazing how contemporary an almost 3000 year old book can seem.)

One of the most interesting passages on temptation comes in chapter 7. I'd like to read Proverbs chapter 7 together, and as we do, I'd like you to pay close attention because I'm going to ask some questions.

I have two questions I want to ask you about this passage, but first I need to deal with a potential problem that may bother some of you: And the problem is that here and throughout Proverbs temptation is symbolized by a woman. Now some of you are likely to get hung up at this point, so we may need to talk about it. Is this just a stereotyping of women -- the temptress, symbolizing evil, leading the poor, innocent man astray. [Is this a problem for any of you? If it's not, we can skip it.]

Two facts may help you to get past this problem:
  1. Wisdom is also symbolized by a woman in Proverbs. 7:4 -- "Say to wisdom, 'You are my sister,' and call understanding your kinsman." So what we have here is simply a balancing of roles: Two women, one representing godliness and wisdom, the other representing temptation and folly are competing with one another for our attention. One calls out openly in the marketplace, the other lurks in the alleyways and whispers in the darkness. So a woman gets the worst role, a woman also gets the best role.

  2. The literary form that the book of Proverbs takes is advice from a father to a son. And if a father is writing to a son -- and a son who is rather clearly heterosexual -- then it would be rather strange to write about the dangers of sexual temptation without talking about women and particular what kind of women to stay away from. The fact is that we could quite easily reverse the genders in this story and the force and the application would remain exactly the same and just as relevant.

If we can get that barrier out of the way, then we see that what this is an extremely useful story because it is a dramatization of how temptation works. So here are my questions:

  1. First, think about the adulteress. What tactics does she use?

What we have here is an amazingly realistic picture of the psychology of temptation. It comes on me suddenly, when I least expect it. It promises me pleasure and excitement. It appeals to my pride, my desire to be in control. It often disguises itself as righteousness and piety; and it reassures me that no one will find out, no harm will come of it.

  1. Now, consider the person tempted. What what is he like?

This is simply not a fair contest. It is obvious from the start that this guy doesn't have a chance. And verses 22 and 23 give us an image of what happens that would be comic if it wasn't so familiar: "All at once he followed her, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life."

Now let's imagine this guy survives. And a couple of days later he comes into your office for counseling with some bruises and a few cuts. He's guilt ridden. He's scared. And he wants to know what he could do differently. He wants to know how he can deal with temptation -- it just comes on him so suddenly and seems so irresistible. What are you going to tell him?

Well, he can't change the nature of temptation. It will come by surprise. It will overwhelm his senses. It will promise excitement. It will flatter. And it will reassure him that nothing bad will happen.

What he can do is to forearm to himself. Let me suggest 4 principles for fighting temptation -- 4 tools the Proverbs 7 man, or any of us, need to know to deal with temptation wisely.

PRINCIPLE 1: Be alert to the danger.
Map out the minefield in your life. When we lived on the South Side of Chicago, we knew that there were some places that we just could not go at night. There were certain streets or subway stations where it was just foolish to go after dark. Sometimes it was unavoidable -- I had to work late. And on those occasions my adrenaline was up, every sense was alert, because I knew about the potential for danger.

Finally, in practical terms, I am vulnerable to temptation when I am thinking about other people's faults. I am in great danger whenever I am correcting or judging others. Galatians 6:1: Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself; lest you too be tempted. (e.g. Jesus warning -- take the log out of your own eye before you try to take the speck out of someone else's.)

PRINCIPLE 2: Know your enemies strengths and weaknesses.
I'm in the Holyoke mall with my kids. We're at J.C. Penny and we've gotten everything we came for. Problem is the car is parked at the other end. My mission is to get down to Sears and safely out of the mall without emptying my wallet. On the way our senses will be bombarded. We will smell cinnamon buns and the aroma of coffee. We will drag ourselves past the movies playing in the Disney store. We will grit our teeth with determination as we march past the clearance rack outside the bookstore. All the way we will be bombarded with attractive and persuasive messages -- but one thing you can be pretty sure of. No one will come out of a store and drag us by force into a store. No one has the power to make me go into the Christmas Tree shop.

Temptation is like that. It cannot coerce. It can only persuade. There's good news and bad news here. The good news is that the devil has no more real power over you than a salesperson at the Holyoke mall. The bad news is that his advertising is much more effective and he doesn't give up. He's like some of the telemarketers I deal with. I hang up and 30 seconds later, the phone rings again with the same person whining at me.

Now we need to be forearmed with this knowledge because when we face temptation it often feels like it is impossible to resist. But that is a lie. Scripture promises that if we resist the devil then he will flee. Resistance is possible. The devil has no real power over the children of God. You can hang up when he calls. If you don't, it's because you don't want to. God gives us this assurance:

1 Cor. 10:12-13 : No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.


PRINCIPLE 3: Live with purpose and urgency.

Soldiers in the midst of a battle do not have time for frivolous pursuits. And we are in a battle. There is no reason for any Christian to be aimless or purposeless. We are in a battle for the souls of men and women and for the redemption of the world. We are soldiers under orders. the times that I am most likely to be vulnerable to temptation are when I am AWOL from the work of God's Kingdom. Our Proverbs 7 man falls into temptation because he has nothing better to do with his time than to wander in the streets. There is no excuse for wandering aimlessly in a world full of hungry, hurting people.

(This is also a challenge to the church: We need to communicate a sense of urgency and purpose.)

 PRINCIPLE 4: Savor God's promises.
The joys that God promises are so much greater than anything temptation can offer that the best defense against temptation is a longing for the things of God. When I do not long for eternal joy, I am easily tempted by the promise of short-term pleasure.

This leads us to the heart of the problem with temptation -- lack of faith -- not believing that God can do so much better for us.


Finally a word of reassurance for those of you in severe struggles with temptation. Struggle is a sign of life. Our Proverbs 7 man does not struggle -- he is completely passive. But if there is a battle going on within you, then thank God! It is a sign of the Holy Spirit at work.

Suggested application: Read Ephesians 6:10-18 and apply it to those areas you are struggling with.