Skating on Thin Ice

One of the wisest things I ever heard is that the best way to overcome temptation is to avoid it. Sometimes, we can't avoid temptation, such as when a trap is laid for us. But if we can avoid temptation, we should.

For instance, I have a tendency to eat a whole box of cookies in one sitting. It is best for me to not buy a box of cookies, and I rarely have. I have not been happy with myself when I have given into that urge and brought home a box of cookies. Many times, I bought sugar treats, telling myself it was for company who came for tea, but company did not get much of a chance to knock on my door before the cookies or whatever was consumed, by me, by just me, and in only one afternoon or evening.

Don't skate where the ice is thin. If you have a weakness, avoid putting yourself in a position where that weakness can take over. Be honest about your weakness. Humility is wholesome and leads to promotion, but pride goes before a fall.

If you have a friend who influences you to do stupid stuff and get into trouble, it would be wise to avoid that person. It might be a really hard thing to do, especially if they are winsome and make you laugh a lot, or if they are generous, but this is one of the situations that the Bible is referring to when it says to pluck out your eye, if it causes you to sin, or to cut off your hand for the same reason. Not literally, of course. It's better to lose that friend than to let him or her lead you into Hell.

I knew a fellow who had a problem with lust. He often fell into sin and hated himself for it. He had plenty of opportunity to sin, as he was very tall, well–built, fairly good–looking, flamboyant, oozed confidence (which girls and women find very attractive in a man), was outgoing and funny, and he had money. He was also a Christian, or considered himself so, and he wanted to be in Christian ministry. It did not fit in with his self–image or ambitions to be a weak–willed man who was easily seduced or a wolf.

But he really was a wolf, a toxic narcissist who did not realize that he was a very self–centred person. He craved female admiration, but he wanted to prove to himself that he was immune to it. So, he would sometimes deliberately place himself in a position where he could be tempted, so that he could prove that he was stronger than the temptation.

Sometimes, he succeeded in not giving in and having sex with the girl, like when he picked up a hitchhiker and let her sleep in his motel room when he was working out of town. He slept in the bed; she slept on the floor, and she kept saying, "I can't believe this," as she was more than willing to have sex with him.

He had a strong motive, though, for not giving in that time. He was witnessing to the other men he worked with on that job. He wanted to impress them that he was a strong Christian. Indeed, they were impressed that he didn't have sex with that girl. But a gentleman doesn't let a female sleep on the floor while he takes the bed. If he had truly been a gentleman, and a wise Christian, he would have rented a separate room for that girl to give her a safe place to sleep for the night; he could have well afforded it. His co–workers might have been even more impressed with his Christianity.

He was quite proud of his victory over his flesh that time, but it didn't always work out that way. He had sex with a lot of women, and confided that one of them wanted him to pimp for her. Sheesh. This was a man who skated over and over on thin ice, with predictable results.

It is important for us to be aware of our weaknesses, humble about admitting to them, and wise about handling them. There are some sins that, if we fail to overcome them, can hurt a lot of people. Sexual sin, for instance, devastates the reputation of a Christian, strains relationships, and hinders lost souls from coming to Christ, whether the Christian is in ministry or not. The Bible says to flee youthful lusts, and that Christians should not fornicate, not even once.

That man I spoke of did not adequately deal with his sin in time to avoid causing terrible damage to his family and his ministry. He eventually went to prison for molesting his own daughter.

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