March 3, 2014
COMMONALITY: TEMPTING, ISN'T IT?
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Jessica Gober
Central Truth
Even when we are so easily tempted to wander from the God who continues to provide blessings for us, He exhibits His love even more in that He gives us a way out so that we can continue to walk rightly with Him.
Key Verse | 1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Warning Against Idolatry
1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, 1 10:1 Or brothers and sisters that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown 2 10:5 Or were laid low in the wilderness.
6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ 3 10:9 Some manuscripts the Lord to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Dive Deeper | 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Verse 13 states: "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man." In my pride, I want to say those famous last words, "I would NEVER be tempted to do that!" Whatever "that" is in the moment. Then I go back to verse 12: "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall," and I am silenced.
Before these verses, Paul warns the Corinthians through a parallel view of the Israelites during their wandering in the desert and the Corinthian church. He reminds them of the amazing ways the Lord had blessed the Israelites through His presence and provision, just as He was doing for the Corinthians. However, though God was providing these blessings, He was not pleased with His people because they had given their hearts to evil things. They were participating in pagan practices, worshipping idols, engaging in sexual immorality, among other things.
Paul knew the Corinthians were being tempted to fall into the same behaviors and wanted to warn them to guard against such things. They were not immune to these things just because they were participating in the blessings of God, going to church, and had been baptized. Their own self-confidence could lead them to go places that would put them in tempting situations that could prove very harmful (see James 1:14-15).
These verses are so relevant to us today. There is such danger in participating in things of this world, and much caution is needed. Some cultural practices are simply sinful, and we should not have any part of them. Others are neutral in and of themselves: happy hour with colleagues, competitive sports, shopping, eating, working out, etc., but could draw us away from the Lord into sinful things.
Far too often, I have not fled from idols (1 John 5:21), underestimated the challenge of a tempting environment or overestimated my ability to overcome one, and suffered the consequences as a result.
In verse 13, God promises to provide a way out of temptation. Sometimes, the choice NOT to put yourself in certain situations in the first place is your way out.
Discussion Questions
1. Are there things/actions you believe would never be a temptation for you?
2. Do you judge those who are tempted in ways you have not been tempted as if their sinful desires are worse than yours?
3. Have you ever been surprised by a temptation that you never thought would be a challenge for you?
4. Name three things that take up most of your money, time, and attention. Could these be idols placed above the Lord?