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Articles
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TRIAL AND TEMPTATION
Often, it’s easy for us to think of trials as the same thing as temptations. We sometimes hear people say that God will never put more on you then you are able to handle. This statement is usually a reference to 1 Corinthians 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you, but such is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it. If you look at the 11 verses prior to this, Paul is referencing to God’s children in the Old Testament. He is telling those at the Corinthian church that no matter what God did to deliver his people, they were still unfaithful to him. God proved his power repeatedly by performing miracles to save them out of the hands of their enemies, but they still were caught up in the sin of idolatry and fornication.
The point here is sin is something we must engage in when temptation is presented unto us. Were as with trials, they are going to come in this life. So, with temptation, it is a choice, but with trials we have no choice. For example, I had a person tell me one time that drug use was a disease just like cancer. I responded by saying, I never heard of anyone choosing to have cancer, seems to me that drugs are a choice. She went on to explain that there is a chemical dependence that occurs. I do understand that. With all that said, we must go to the temptations, in the case of trials they come to us.
There are biblical examples that tell me that people, sometimes have trials that are more than they can handle. In the case of trials or temptations God is the answer. 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 says, For we do not want to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us Asia, that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us.
We are not the only ones that are tempted and have trials. Jesus our Savior was also tempted. We see in the temptation in Matthew 4:1, Then waws Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. We see here that Jesus withstood the temptation and said in Matthew verse 10, Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Jesus also went through trials and one that affects us all deeply, is when Jesus was preparing to hang on the cross. We read in Luke 22:40-44, 40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
We need to use this example, and when we are confronted with trials that are hard to bear, pray to God. He will never leave you nor forsake you, Deut. 31:8.
Robby Cable
Providence Church of Christ
