Finding Wisdom to Resist Temptation

Most everyone likes to have the warning to resist something that is bad or harmful, correct? Most enjoy acquiring proper knowledge or alerts to feel they are prepared to make a wise decision. Moreover, some enjoy gathering information ahead of time, especially when they think it warns them of potential future dangers. When a person has found God’s Wisdom, they are fully prepared to resist the sinful temptations. When this is taken seriously, a person can then resist temptation and exercise true wisdom.

Resist Temptation

There is much wisdom found in the book of Proverbs, specifically in the warnings to resist temptation. In Proverbs 4:14-15, the writer of Proverbs challenges the reader to deal with the rising temptations of sin. Verse 15 plainly warns to resist sin’s temptation, meaning, don’t even “walk in the way of evil,” instead, as Proverbs warns, “Avoid it.” We are not to wait until sin has begun or has enticed us or someone. The warning found in James 1:14 is, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” Therefore, the wise thing to do is resist the temptation from the start and deny any stronghold.

Resisting sin means that strongholds do not get an opportunity to form. It means that being a slave to sin will not gain any ground. It means that person is, with God’s help, prepared to resist temptation. Moreover, the Holy Spirit living within us also helps us to resist temptations to sin. In that regard, one author states, “Attentive warning to God’s Word is a good sign of a work of grace begun in the heart, and a good means of carrying it on.” Because believers have the Holy Spirit living inside them, they have the power to resist temptation. God’s presence and counsel help us be wise in our lives and help us live a God-glorifying life.

Listen to God’s Wisdom

One interesting thing about Proverbs, specifically Proverbs 4:20-27, the Bible gives wisdom as it pertains to the body, namely, the mouth, eyes, and feet. For example, Proverbs 4:24 says, “Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you.” As one commentator states, “The ‘mouth’ is one outlet for since, words follow thoughts (v. 24).” Another warning deals with the eyes. We are told in Proverbs 4:25, “Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you.”

To best give examples of this, a commentator writes, “The ‘eyes’ are a dangerous inlet to sin (v. 25); this is demonstrated by Eve (Gen. 3:6), Achan (Josh. 7:21), and Lot’s wife (Gen. 19:26).” These examples did not follow or heed God’s Wisdom and, therefore, suffered significant consequences. Lastly, Proverbs 4: 26-27 warns against resisting temptation regarding our “feet” or path. The Bible says, “Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.” In these verses, the writer of Proverbs knows how dire a person’s path or direction
is; therefore, he gives a solid warning to “ponder,” “establish,” and “remove.”

God’s Word gives us all we need to resist temptation. The question remains, “How are we making sure that we are spending time in God’s Word to gain His Wisdom?” Moreover, “How are we making sure to prepare ourselves to resist temptation?”

Questions

• What is your plan for memorizing God’s Word?
• Do you have a Bible-reading plan?
• What is your plan to help resist temptation?
• Have you ever developed a strategy or plan to fight
  sinful temptations?

Resources

The Believers Study Bible: In-depth answers and practical applications reflecting evangelical
belief and tradition, New King James Version. Nelson Publishers.

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