What to Ask Yourself when Tempted
22. Mar, 2011 
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Tempting. Enticing. Eye Catching. He thought I might be interested. Out of his pocket came a small clear vial. He removed the lid and white crystal rocks tumbled into the palm of his hand.
We had worked together for several months as room service attendants at a Marriott hotel before he made the pitch, “Do you want to make some easy money?” I was young and quickly intrigued. “Sure,” I replied. He held out ten small stones in the palm of his hand and explained the crack was worth $100.
He said he’d give me the crack to sell, and I could pocket all the money. When I sold those, he’d make sure I had more, and we would split the profit. He made it seem so simple. I didn’t see that offer coming, and I had a decision to make.
Joseph didn’t see what was coming either. He had risen to a place of significance and was in charge of Potipher’s entire estate. Potipher’s wife had her eye on Joseph. Her admiration became a proposition when she demanded, “Come to bed with me!” She offered herself freely.
No doubt the wife of Pharaoh’s Captain of the Guard was both beautiful and enticing. Joseph said “…my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care.” (Genesis 39:8) but he realized that there were limits to what was rightfully his to handle. He had a decision to make.
We all face those decision moments when we must decide how far we will go. Here are three important questions to ask yourself when facing a tempting choice.
Three questions that will help you make the right decision:
Where will it take you? Considering where your choice will lead helps bring clarity to the best decision. Joseph’s life could have turned out very differently had he chosen to accept the invitation. One decision can dramatically alter the direction of your life. Choose carefully.
When will you stop? It is far better to refuse the first time than to accept and then try to go back. You can’t go back. Once the line has been crossed, it is much harder to say, “No,” next time. Instead of trying to convince yourself that there won’t be a next time, prevent it from occurring the first time by choosing to do right.
Is it really worth it? Everything comes with a cost. The choice before you may appear free for the taking, but nothing is free. It may seem like you won’t get caught, and you may convince yourself you won’t. Regardless of whether you do or don’t, you will have to live with it. Is it worth that?
Choosing to accept the crack and make some fast cash would have changed the path of my life. Saying, “Yes,” would’ve taken me down the road of pursuing money regardless of the real cost. The same was true of Joseph. Choosing to take what wasn’t his would have changed his life forever.
You may have heard this familiar observation, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” Choosing to do what is right will result in a happier life with fewer regrets. When those enticing opportunities spring up, remember to look beyond the moment and consider that if it looks too good to be true, it’s not for you.
You can read more about Joseph’s life in Genesis 39.
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Additional reading on handling temptation:
One Stupid Decision Away | Michael Hyatt
Radical: Taking Back Your Faith | Review
Knowing where you are going will keep you from making bad decisions | Donald Miller
Related posts:
To not enter into temptation is to take God’s way of escape at the immediate onset of any temptation. It is the entering into of a temptation, the contemplation of the act that takes us past the point of escape. We then find ourselves, having rejected God’s provision, in our weak flesh being swept along into committing the act itself.
“The Way of Escape” Is a very helpful and insightful message that deals with temptation.
Here is a link to download or listen to it online.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?m=t&s=102610233191
Thanks for sharing Bill!