Temptation

Have you ever been tempted? Sure, you have. Things that catch our attention flash before our eyes and we feel the urge to respond. It might be that second helping of chocolate cake. It might be some ad in a commercial that advertises something that we don't need and can't afford. A click here to see more windows that interrupt our online search. Temptation is around every corner.

Sin is so enticing on the front end, but afterward, as we face the consequences of giving in, we see our sin from a different perspective. It’s in the aftermath that we often ask ourselves, “Why did I give in?”

Now if someone is looking over our shoulder and says don't eat that or you really don't need that, we often pull back from temptation. Well,…. Someone is with us today that reminds us that someone is always watching over our shoulder: God.

In today's scripture passage, Joseph modeled what it means to live with that truth in mind: God is watching our every move. Joseph always wanted to keep himself clean in the midst of a dirty culture. Through the life of Joseph, the Bible gives us an example of how we can move beyond temptation and make the right choice.

You may not be tempted in the same way that Joseph was, and then again you may be, but you will face temptation. We all do. Which is why Joseph's approach to temptation can help us all.

PRAYER

At the end of our message on April 24th, Joseph was being hauled off to Egypt with a broken heart. He had been disowned and sold into slavery by his brothers. At this point, he had little hope that the dreams he once shared would ever come true. Rather than boil with anger and try to seek revenge, Joseph chose to bloom where he was planted and to trust God to see him through.

There have been times during this ministry that I became so disgruntled and upset over people's actions or reactions that I just wanted to burst out and tell them so. But God held me back. I prayed and asked God for guidance, for patience, for understanding, and to help me see things from His point of view. God answered that prayer and I became forgiving and carried on with the ministry that God had called me to do. I, like Joseph, chose to bloom where God had planted me and to trust God to see me through it. And He did.

Genesis 39: 1-7 – “Now Joseph had been taken to Egypt. An Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guards, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.

3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made everything he did successful, 4 Joseph found favor with his master and became his personal attendant. Potiphar also put him in charge of his household and placed all that he owned under his authority.

5 From the time that he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house because of Joseph. The Lord’s blessing was on all that he owned, in his house and in his fields.

6 He left all that he owned under Joseph’s authority; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome. 7 After some time his master’s wife looked longingly at Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.”

Joseph was enjoying God's favor, but that doesn't mean he was immune to temptation. One of those temptations came through Potiphar's wife. She had her eyes on Joseph, and was probably used to getting whatever she wanted. Would Joseph sacrifice his integrity for whatever momentary pleasure she could offer?

A similar situation came up for a girl by the name of Emma. Emma needed an A in her history class to keep her 4.0 GPA. The teacher was known as the toughest instructor in her school. To ace one of his exams was next to impossible. When finals week came around, Emma was filled with anxiety.

The day before the exam, a classmate found a copy of the exam on the top of the teachers filing cabinet. He took pictures of every page and sent them out by text to all of his friends. Emma saw that she had received a message and she stared at her phone for what felt like hours. If she opened those photos, she would be assured of passing the exam. If she hit delete, she might lose her chance at the college scholarships that she desperately needed.