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Stephen Ministry

Temptation creeps into all of our lives. Psychologists point out that those of us who have so much already, are the most vulnerable. We don’t think of ourselves as wealthy, but in comparison to the world, we are. We have more than the majority of the world in security, education, opportunity, possessions and financial backing. But when we think of wealth, we usually think of those wealthier than we are. Take Tiger Woods for example. He had topped a billion dollars in earnings, when something went terribly wrong. Raised in a loving family, married with two children and all a billion dollars could buy, yet still it was not enough. Temptation, unchecked, cost it all.

Tiger Woods isn’t the only example though. Since the stock market crash over a year ago we have seen too many examples of powerful, wealthy and educated people whose decisions jumped from greed to gluttony. First there was the foreclosure scandal leaving thousands without homes across this country. Then, the discovery that Bernie Maddoff, had swindled 65 billion dollars, from trusting investors, stealing their retirement funds and life time savings. Or what about former Illinois Gov. Balogevich accused of trying to sell Obama’s senate seat? Or, how about John Edwards’ denial and later confession, of fathering a child out of wedlock, at the same time his wife discovered a reoccurrence of terminal, untreatable cancer? We have watched the people we have admired, trusted, and even voted for, fall to temptation in the face of greed. And we ask "What were they thinking?"

It’s easy to point the finger of accusation at these examples. In fact there is a certain relief in finger pointing isn’t there? Some of us might say, "I’ve never done anything that bad", that conveniently keeps the focus on someone else instead of us. We are tempted to believe little temptations are OK, while the big ones are not. But beware, for this is a slippery slope.

It is for our own protection that we must guard against judging. Keeping the focus on others prevents self evaluation, with the real temptations being those still within our grasp. Furthermore, temptation can be deceptively attractive. It can blind us to reality with all its promises of pleasure, power, or gain. Temptations are always lurking just around the corner, waiting for the right moment to strike. None of us are exempt from temptation, not even Jesus.

With a sneer, the devil taunts, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." But Jesus does not fall. "People do not live on bread alone." Jesus is referring to a passage in Deuteronomy, where the people are reminded that God fed them with manna to remind them that they do not live on bread alone, but rather on the words of the Lord.

Undaunted by Jesus’ first refusal, this time the devil switches to offer Jesus power. He takes him up to a high place and shows him the kingdoms of the world. "This can all be yours," he promises, "if you will worship me instead." Again, Jesus is prepared with the word of the Lord: "It is written, ‘Fear the Lord your God, and serve him only.’

Still the devil did not give up. Taking him to the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem, the devil yells, "Go ahead, throw yourself down and God will protect you with his angels, just as he says." Jesus knows Psalm 91 the devil is quoting, and trumps the devil declaring, "It is written, do not put the Lord your God to the test." "When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him, until an opportune time."

The last line of this passage is a chilling warning to us. Temptation does not leave us; it returns again and again and we must be ready. Keep in mind, the devil is not a red tailed figure with a pitch fork, so often depicted. I think a more helpful way to think of the devil is by removing the letter "d" from the word devil. What remains is the word evil; a better description of devil. The devil is not through with Jesus, nor is evil through with us, with the first encounter.

What we see in this passage is the battle of the wills. Will it be the devil’s way or God’s? Who will win the battle? Our will or God’s? Will we yield to temptation or follow what is right? Tough questions, when down underneath we know how weak we are. Always we must ask, is this about what I want? Or how I can gain? Or is it about a better way? What will it be? Willfulness or willingness?

What causes temptation to win out, over what we know to be wrong? Friday I watched Tiger Woods apologize for his behavior televised across the country. Here was someone at the top of his game, who risked it all for what tempted him. His explanation was he didn’t think the rules applied to him. He said he had worked hard all his life and thought he deserved to enjoy himself. He said he never thought about how his actions might hurt other people or that he would be caught. Hard to believe at face value, but when we are tempted we have the power to convince ourselves it is OK.

All of us are susceptible to this danger. When we talk about deserving or wanting it is time to beware, for the evil one is on the prowl. For temptation to be successful, we have to set aside our moral values. We have to tell ourselves that the poverty of others is not our fault. We have to turn away from the down and out, convincing ourselves that they deserve what they get. We have to believe the kind of prejudice that protects us from getting involved. Like: all homeless people are using drugs and getting drunk. Or all teenage girls who are pregnant come from poor home situations. True for some, but we know that is not true for all. Blame keeps us at an unhealthy distance, uninformed and unhelpful. Now we are vulnerable for evil to knock on the doors of our hearts.

Temptations are those things that lure and seduce us away from the ways of God. But it is more than greed, whether it be for money, sex or power. Greed is the very thing that chips away at our character and integrity. Investing in greed does not allow us to consider the needs of others. It protects us from getting involved and hardens our hearts to the hardships of others.

It is at the beginning of his ministry, that the devil attacks Jesus, where he assumes Jesus is most vulnerable. Show your authority, demonstrate your power; prove just how great you are. But Jesus is not persuaded. Jesus was ready for the temptation. He had a relationship with God. He knew when Scripture was misinterpreted. He did not have to prove himself or get more power than he already had. His trust was in God, not himself.

But temptation is not only about what we do that is harmful. It is also about what we choose not to do that harms others. For example, it can be a temptation to set aside our moral beliefs when confronted with the issue of poverty. Jesus said care about those who are suffering, but if we can convince ourselves that not getting involved is OK, we have compromised our moral values and we are at risk. There are lots of ways to help the poor and we do. But without addressing the issues that cause poverty we end up only treating the symptoms and not the cause.

Jim Wallis, president of Sojourners, Harvard University teacher, best-selling author, and consultant to leading politicians, was in Denver last week. He is more than concerned about the moral fabric of our society. His most recent book is entitled Rediscovering Wall Street: A Moral Compass for the New Economy. His premise is the current financial crisis is a moral crisis. He states that we won’t get financial recovery until we regain some moral recovery. Wallis believes that we can no longer accept blaming the immoral corrupt and think we are off the hook. He suggests that we must emphasize what we can contribute in abilities, instead of the assets we want to accumulate. Not taking a stand for our moral values only increases the breakdown of society.

In his book, Faith Works, he addresses the disparity between the haves and the have nots and the hopelessness of only treating the symptoms. It is much easier to write a check, give away the clothes we are not using, or even serve at a soup kitchen, than getting acquainted with the poor to learn what the real issues are. All of us together, rich and poor, he says, have the wisdom, the ideas, and the resources, to change the system. What perpetuates this system, he contends, is the discomfort of the haves with the issue.

The temptation is to protect ourselves from any contact with the poor thereby making it much easier for us to accept the prejudice and fear associated with helping the poor. If we get involved, we run the risk of perhaps meeting a father who has lost his home and his job, not related to alcohol or drugs. Or we just might meet a person who is forced to choose between eating or paying for health care because their job is limited to minimum wage.

Jim Wallis suggests that the solution lays with those who are struggling, not with government programs. He has proven that answers are found with those closest to the situation; those on street, or without health care, or prevented from getting a good education; these are the ones who see the problems better than those of us who are not in that situation.

Statistically, those in the lower middle class or poverty level are not criminals but are instead are often victims of decisions beyond their control. The economic situation, he says, is now built in part on the mergers popping up everywhere. In an effort to finance, such consolidations, executives execute lay offs. When jobs are cut the value of the company goes up on Wall Street. Research shows that every time a merger occurs and jobs are cut, the salaries of the top executives increase.

The questions seem insurmountable. What can we do? How does one person make a difference? How do I make a difference? These are tough questions; and I don’t have answers for myself, let alone all of you. But I do believe that the answers come from those closest to the situation and within each of us. You and I have something to share. We have a faith that preaches hope and motivates our actions, decision making, and our impact with others. It is our compass.

The Biblical prophets took a stand for the poor, because to be silent or declare helplessness was believed to be immoral. To speak against the system was not popular then and it isn’t today. But doing the right thing is more important than being popular. Will it be our willfulness or willingness?

This is the first Sunday of Lent; a time we focus on Christ and commit to following him more faithfully. The discipline of fasting, or giving up something, was meant as a way of learning how to subordinate our wills to God’s. One commentator suggests that it is also about strengthening our wills so that we are able to withstand the temptations that confront us. It’s not so much about giving up, as it is about girding up, a shield of protection around us.

Temptation lurks everywhere, but don’t despair, for there is hope. We have learned, through Jesus that Scripture can arm and protect us from falling. We are meant to study it, learn it, be familiar with it, and wear it like armor. This is the example we have in Jesus. We are to recognize temptation that can either be about doing something evil that is not of God; or refusing to do something good that is of God. Either way we have chosen temptation.

Tiger Woods is but a symbol of the human condition. Yet neither the world nor Tiger Woods is hopeless. He and we can be forgiven, but more importantly, with God’s help, we can be changed. Tiger said he has decided to do what he can to change his ways and to stand for integrity instead of greed. He is beginning to see that his character is more important than his accomplishments. Maybe something good can come out of his fall into temptation. I pray that this is true; for him, for you, and for me.