Three Temptations
Jesus was subject to three temptations - could our own temptations fall into three categories?
First, he was tempted when he was at his weakest. He had been fasting for 40 days. He was shown some rocks and tempted to change them to bread. No one doubts that he was hungry and weak. The rocks looked like loaves of bread. He could imagine eating and he could change them.
When you and I are tempted by “bread,” it comes in the form of an appetite. Our needs for food, rest and sex easily become temptations at the wrong time. Have you ever turned to food when you feel depressed or discouraged? Food has a natural effect on the body - bringing life and energy. However, some foods are more powerful stimulants or sedatives. Our mortal experience comes with the challenge of remaining in control and choosing wisely to partake. Self control includes waking up to an alarm, managing powerful emotions like anger and despair, and consuming all things (from medicine to sugar) in moderation.
Second Jesus was tempted by the saving grace of angels. He was reminded that the angels could save him. Are your parents “saving angels?” Do you imagine winning the lottery? We are all faced with challenging circumstances. We are all looking for an easy way out of our trials. Jesus did not take the easy way out. When my kids are assigned a chore, they suddenly remember that they need to use the restroom. As adults, we procrastinate fixing problems, doing yard work, and cleaning up messes. We need to overcome this natural tendency to avoid exertion and control our body with our will. In doing so we become stronger physically and emotionally.
Third Jesus was tempted by the lands and gold of the whole world. He could be powerfully revealed as a God. Instead he chose to consecrate his life, living as a poor wanderer, rather than overcoming the world by force. In this temptation, we see his true motives. Are you motivated by obedience and love? Of all the motives, these are the highest - but the temptation is to go for lower fruit. All of us crave connection and thus we look to our influence with others and the encouragement we get from them. Power is just a global level of influence and even a little power - to control your family can be a great temptation. Glory, the recognition we crave for our achievements, is also a temptation. How we act when faced with these temptations determines our trajectory in spiritual matters.
Our life’s experiences contain a mixture of all three temptations. In some ways we are less able to give our motives to God if we can’t give up “bread.” Self control is basically the spirit choosing to allow or disallow the natural body it’s pleasures because of a higher value system. Choosing to be part of the “true vine” (John 15:1-5) instead of setting up yourself as a vineyard, is an act of self denial. Choosing to tolerate others’ weaknesses because of love removes many of the petty disagreements we find ourselves entangles in. Allowing others to have lower motives and make choices that do not lead to freedom - without judging - is also love. Not swooping in to “save” others may also be love although helping in moderation is also necessary.
I would love to know how you gain mastery of your physical body. Some in centuries past wore scratchy coats under their clothing. I personally use consistent exercise and periodic fasting. In overcoming the body, we may need to turn to Christ himself, the example of self mastery and ask him to cover our “unbelief.” (Mark 9:24) Those of us who do not have a substance abuse problem, may not have to fight that demon, but we were tempted with the same temptations that all face. We just didn’t allow ourselves that particular pleasure. Complete self control is the goal but incremental successes are worth counting. Satan never gives up. He continues to come back with the same old story. However, as we change within our mind, the value we place on self mastery and the ideals we strive to emulate, we can become immune to temptations (in general).