The Tyranny of Temptation

We recently encountered some visitors in our garage. After a few squeals from the kids, my husband proceeded to The Home Depot to purchase some mouse traps. Now, keep in mind that he’s of that general mentality that if one is good, fifteen must be even better. While I thought it was a bit excessive, at least I was encouraged that he took his job of mouse hunter seriously.

But now, the garage was effectively booby trapped so I warned the kids of the dangers of letting our dog out there. We became vigilant in keeping one eye on the dog at all times and remembering to close all doors – something that seems to be a tough thing for my kids.

On the first night of mouse warfare we experienced success. I’ll spare you the details, but Mickey (and friends) were now gone. Night two, not a creature was stirring. And so, by night three, I felt confident that our problem was resolved. Yet, I wanted some insurance should any others return. My concern: how would we possibly keep the dog out of the garage and away from the peanut butter laden traps for an extended period of time?

Then, I spotted the answer. Our dog crate, which the dog boycotted long ago, was now in the garage. I placed the plethora of traps in the crate and secured it – mice could go in should others decide to visit, but the dog couldn’t. I could monitor daily to make sure the visitors hadn’t returned.

The plan was working. Or so I thought.

The next afternoon, ear piercing screams echoed from the garage. My daughter was pleading for me to come. She stood, gasping for breath, pointing at the crate. And much to my amazement, there sat our dog – inside the crate with all of the loaded mouse traps, trying to help himself to a snack of peanut butter. I somehow extracted him and his nose wasn’t shredded by the traps. I’m still not sure how he managed to not get snapped.

I wish I’d had time to capture a picture of him sitting in the crate with all the mouse traps. It’s a perfect picture of how we live life sometimes. We have so many freedoms in Christ, yet, we tend to find the one place that’s out of bounds and try to park ourselves there. Our dog had the freedom to go anywhere in our house and yard. He has an abundance of love and food and toys and warm beds. Yet, he fell to the temptation of the smear of peanut butter and was barely spared from damaging consequences.

What are we tempted by today? Is it gossip, or laziness, or distorting the truth to protect our image? Are we tempted by lust or envy? Are we tempted to think that we’re better than someone else and judge their behavior?

I pray that we’ll focus on the many freedoms that we have and run from the cage of temptation. We might not be as lucky as my dog, Duke, and instead experience the pain and burn when the temptation bites back.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Cindy Schufflebarger
Author and Speaker
www.cindyshufflebarger.com

A Carrot, an Egg and a Cup of Coffee!

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hardboiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity…boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level?

How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Proverbs 24:10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Peggy Stokes
Ind. Senior Sales Director - Mary Kay Cosmetics
www.marykay.com/pstokes