I can't tell you how many times I've read the story about Jesus' temptation in the desert (Matt. 4:1-11), but something that a leader in my church said today really changed my whole perspective on it. The leader was talking about her struggle against pride and insecurities and how we need to rid ourselves of the need to prove ourselves to others. She mentioned briefly that Jesus was tempted by that same desire when he was in the desert and Satan told him to throw himself down. I thought more about it later and was struck by the universality of his temptations. I used to think that Jesus was tempted in a fairly situation-specific way. I mean, seriously, Satan couldn't really get to me by telling me to turn rocks into food, so no problem! I didn't really think that part of it applied to me. As I re-thought about the three temptations of Jesus, I was amazed at how often I am actually tempted by the same things.
Temptation 1- "...tell these stones to become bread." I feel like this is the temptation to take care of yourself, to look out for number one. I feel like Americans are especially tempted by this one. We have such a "pull yourself up by your boostraps" mentality, and (whether we actually say it or not) look down on the people who haven't done that. Oh, you don't have enough money for _____? Well, get it together! Work harder! Get another job! We have a hard time recognizing God's place in providing for us. While I would NEVER argue that we should just sit around twiddling our thumbs, staring up at the sky with open mouths, waiting for manna from Heaven to fall straight into them, I also don't think we give God enough credit. I think we view our responsibilities as humans as an Olympic torch. We go til we can't, then pass the torch on to God. No! Instead, I think we need to recognize that God comes alongside us and works with us as we do well and fail and just go through life. We don't need to do it all by ourselves.
Temptation 2: "...throw yourself down." Jesus was fully human as well as fully God. That said, I think he probably wanted, at least once in a while, to have his closeness with God reaffirmed. I know it's a big deal to me when God speaks to me through a song, or Bible verse, or what someone else says or whatever else. I need to remember that he loves me. Jesus fought the temptation to have God prove his love for him in front of Satan.
Temptation 3: "All this I will give you... if you will bow down and worship me." This final temptation may well have been the sneakiest, the one we often don't even know we're struggling with til we look back on it. Jesus was tempted to go after a good thing with less than godly methods. Disobedience to God is never, ever okay, even when it looks like it will earn something God wants for us. Jesus had a God-given desire to save the world. Satan offered it to him, but with a condition. Worship him, not God. I feel like Eve went through the same thing. She was told that she would "be like God" if she ate the fruit. Even though God had told her not to do it, she may well have said to herself, "I love God, and I want more than anything to be like him. I know he said not to... but maybe he doesn't want me to have that burden. I love him enough to do it anyway!" This mindset, this rationalizing of sin, is dangerous and unfortunately really common. I know God said ____, but I think he meant for me to ____, which I can do even more efficiently by _____. This temptation is at its foundation a subtle version of pride. You may know God's will and really want to do it. You just think that you know the best way to get that accomplished. No one ever said that Satan was dumb.
"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." (1 Cor. 10:12-13)
"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." (Eph. 6:13)
"Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7b)
