LUST in the heart and inordinate affection for achievement and material things placed above the word and will of God are the strong pull and power by which Satan draws people into temptation.

Not everyone is drawn away by what interests another person.

An individual is conquered because “he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” Gazing continuously at an object of temptation can make a believer lose his or her Christian experiences, destroy ministry and testimony, bring shame to his life, and lose his or her dignity and precious privileges. “For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.”

Many people read and hear the word of God, but “the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” Many, so-called, Christians do not count prosperity and success as possible objects of temptation. They seem to think that they can do just about anything – sacrifice their integrity and Christian professions – in order to acquire prosperity.

They do not know how to deal with creeping greed and covetousness, like fraudulent practices and the love of money. Hence, they “fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” The scripture commands us to “flee these things” and “abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.”

People who recognise that they have a treasure tend to protect and preserve it with their lives. The privilege to be called children of God, ministers of the gospel, to be in fellowship with the saints, having their names written in the Book of Life and hope of reward in heaven is a treasure. If they know how valuable, sublime and great their treasure is, temptation will mean nothing to them.

As believers, we must “lay not up for (ourselves) treasures upon earth… But lay up for (ourselves) treasures in heaven… For where (our) treasure is, there will (our) heart be also.” Good Bible examples like Joseph, Moses, Nehemiah, Job, Daniel and the Apostles all focused on their treasures and refused to compromise their faith.
People yield to temptation because they forget their treasures. We must set our minds on our precious treasure in heaven, and give up everything else that is contesting with it.

Money was the idol of the rich ruler who Jesus told to detach himself from his wealth in order to have treasure in heaven. When he “went away grieved… Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, how hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!”

We must not allow the things of this world to affect our commitment to the service of God, like through the Great Commission – or spreading the word of God to those who are outside the faith. We must be “temperate in all things” and not allow good or bad things become temptation to us. We must keep our desires under control, and care more for the things of the Lord.

Also, we must not allow the prevailing conditions in our cities or communities to be a source of temptation to us. The Lord warns us: “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”

As we await Christ’s coming, we must stand for righteousness and not allow temptation to grab our soul, pull or drag us back from our “inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for (us), Who are kept (hitherto) by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

• Further reading (King James Version): James 1:2,12,14,15. James 1:13-15; Genesis 6:5; Mark 7:20-23; Joshua 7:21; Isaiah 44:20; Micah 2:1-3. James 1:14,15; Proverbs 6:25-29; Mark 4:18,19; 1 Timothy 6:9-11; 1 Peter 2:11. Matthew 6:19-21; 13:44; Mark 10:21-24; 1 Corinthians 9:25-27; 7:29-31; Revelation 2:10; 3:11,12,21,22; 1 Peter 1:3-5.