Somewhere, probably in a theological reference book, I read that the Greek word for "temptation" has a duel meaning:
1) any attempt to entice into evil;
2) a testing which aims at an ultimate spiritual good.
Jesus faced both testing from God and temptation from Satan. Probably his attitude determined whether the inclination was enticement or testing.
In centuries past the church created a list of Seven Deadly Sins:
Pride or vanity--the excessive belief in one's own ability that hinders recognition of God's empowering grace.
Envy--desire for what others have, whether character, personality, status, abilities, or material goods.
Gluttony--an excessive desire to consume more than what one requires.
Lust--an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body;an insatiable desire to feed our physical appetites.
Anger--wrath, fury, rage; a response to blocked goals
Greed--avarice, covetousness; the desire for material wealth at the expense of others while ignoring the realm of the spiritual.
Sloth--the avoidance of work both physical and spiritual.
Gandhi, 1869-1948, listed Seven Deadly Social Sins:
politics without principle,
wealth without work,
commerce without morality,
pleasure conscience,
education without character,
science without humanity,
worship without sacrifice.
This gives us a framework for self-examination. How have you been tested? What are your temptations?
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment