BiblicalInsights.net

     Every person is confronted with temptation.  There is much to be learned from the fall of Eve.  The record is given in Genesis 3:1-24.  First, Eve was isolated.  Satan often works one on one.  Eve relied upon herself to resist Satan.  She could have turned to God for help.  She could have talked to her husband, Adam.  Perhaps she thought she could handle the situation on her own.  The decision she made proved to be the wrong one.  Jesus advised his disciples to watch and pray (Matt. 26:41)!  In the moment of temptation, we need to strengthen relationship with God.
     Second, Eve manifested unbelief.  She knew what God had said.  “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.”  Satan said, “Ye shall not surely die.”  Eve rejected what God said and accepted what Satan said–  a fatal mistake.  In order to overcome temptation, we need a strong faith in God.
     Third, Eve indulged the lusts of the flesh.  The sacred record states, “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat” (Gen. 3:6).  The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life are all actively working within Eve.  See I John 2:16.  Peter commands us to “abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul” (I Pet. 2:11).
     Fourth, Eve multiplied her sin by becoming a temptrest.  The Bible says that she “gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”  She is the first temptrest in the Bible.  Often those who practice sin want others to join them in their sin.  When sinners entice you, do not consent (Proverbs 1:10). 
     Fifth, Eve attempted to conceal her sin.  “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8).  In the presence of God’s holiness, Adam and Eve were keenly aware of their own unholiness.  They hid from God’s glory and feared His justice.  When confronted by God, Adam and Eve attempted to shift the blame for their sin onto someone else.  This is the first recorded instance of the “blame game.”  Many have played it since.  We lie to conceal personal responsibility for our sin.  The remedy for this is confession of sin.  When we can honestly admit our sin, we have taken the first step toward renouncing it.  
     Eve’s pathway to failure should be a warning to all of us.  “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41)

     Spring cleaning is an annual ritual for many folks who desire to clean their house, garage, basement, attic or the land around their house.  Sometimes this is a dreaded task.  However, once completed, it gives great satisfaction.  Have you ever considered spiritual spring cleaning?  Through self-examination we can discover those things that need to be eliminated from our thoughts and actions and completely purify the mind and heart.  Paul describes this process in Ephesians 4:22-24, “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”  Following these words, Paul names some specific things that need to be eliminated from every person’s life and especially those of Christians.  He mentions lying, sinful anger, stealing, and filthy communication.  A lie is a statement that is contrary to fact offered with the intent to deceive (J. D. Watson, A Word for the Day, 73).  Such things as kidding, fictional stories, figurative language, and not saying something out of politeness are not lying.  There are many things that constitute lying:  false witnessing, exaggerating or embellishing a story, cheating (because you’re saying you did something on your own when you didn’t), betraying a confidence, making excuses for wrong conduct, plagiarism, boasting, flattery, hypocrisy, false promises and many others.  Sinful anger is anger that is: uncontrolled; inspired by the wrong motives such as jealousy, revenge, and hatred; destructive in its results; and often progresses  to malice and strife.  Stealing is taking that which rightfully belongs to another.  We can be guilty of this by taking from an employer what belongs to him, reporting more hours than what we have actually worked, and not paying a debt that is owed. We can even rob God by keeping what  we should rightfully give to Him or by not giving God of our time and devotion in worship and Christian service.  Filthy communication refers to corrupt forms of speech.  Words count!  Whenever we take God’s name in vain, or use it flippantly we sin with our tongue.  Use of bad language such as profanity  would certainly qualify.  False teaching also qualifies.  The word corrupt is from a Greek word meaning “rotten or spoiled.”  Filthy stories, jokes, and vulgar words are all condemned by Paul.  
     The new man in Christ, a Christian, must remove all of these filthy and corrupt things from his life.  Instead, he or she should speak the truth, control his/her anger, work to make an honest living and speak words that encourage and edify others. 
     No doubt this type of spiritual spring cleaning will require hard work, but the results will be pleasing to God and satisfying to the soul.

     In America’s God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations, on pages 256-257, there is a quotation from James Abram Garfield (1831-1881-assassinated– who was the 20th President of the United States) that is worth considering today.  Here it is, “Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress.  If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption.  If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature…If the next centennial does not find  us a great nation…it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.” 
     These words are appropriate for our times.  To a large extent, our elected officials reflect our values and beliefs (collectively speaking).  Take a good look at Congress and you will see the values and norms of our present society reflected in them.   The laws that they enact reflect their beliefs and the beliefs of those who helped elect them.  If we tolerate hypocrisy in Congress or the Presidency, do we tolerate it in ourselves?  If we accept disrepect for the human life of the unborn, do we disrepect human life itself?  If Congress acts irresponsibly with flagrant spending, do we act irresponsibly with our own personal finances?  If we are unhappy with what we see in Congress, perhaps we need to examine ourselves and ask who’s responsible?  In my judgment, Garfield was right.  The moral values we see displayed in our elected officials are often a reflection of the moral values of the people that they govern.  If we want to maintain our integrity, we must follow the high standards of righteousness that we want to see in them.  We must cast off our sin which is a reproach to any people.  Then, we need to elect officials that manifest righteous qualities.  Then and only then, will righteousness exalt the nation (Proverbs 14:34).

     In Matthew 6, Jesus taught His disciples a beautiful prayer.  As a part of the context of that prayer, Jesus taught His disciples to pray for their daily bread.  “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matt. 6:6).  Recently, Christianity Today published an article with some meditations on the phrase daily bread (Christianity Today, March, 2009, p. 56). The article contained reflections on “Praying for Our Daily Bread.”  I want to share some of those with you and add some of my own thoughts on this important subject.  It seems especially appropriate to think on these things during the tough economic times we are facing in America. 
     This prayer is directed to our heavenly Father.  God is our creator and the source of all good things (James 1:17).  He supplies and sustains us in our daily lives.  Prayer denotes relationship with God.  That relationship anchors us in difficult times.
     “Ask and it shall be given” (Matt. 7:7).  Through prayer, we can make our requests to God.  God takes care of His own.  God truly loves us.  However, we must ask without selfishness.  James writes, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:3).
     This prayer indicates absolute trust in God.  God will never disappoint or put us to confusion. “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.”  God will not fail us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5).  We pray, because God has promised.
     Consumerism can destroy us.  The lusts of the flesh must be curbed or else they can corrupt us.  Human nature seems to have an insatiable appetite for things.  Jesus asked only for daily bread.  Trust God to supply that which is needed each day.  God has not promised big bank accounts and ease in retirement.  We must learn to check consumerism with contentment.  Paul writes that “godliness with contentment is great gain” (I Tim. 6:6). 
     We need daily bread to live physically.  However, Jesus said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4).  While we need physical bread to sustain the body, we need the “bread from heaven” to sustain the soul.  In difficult times, we must not allow the flesh to rule the spirit.  We must pursue the spiritual things of God to find contenment and satisfaction.  Jesus said, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).
     Give me neither poverty or riches.  Riches may cause me to disown my Lord.  Poverty may cause me to steal and dishonor my Lord.  Give me my daily bread.  It is enough.
     Develop the attitude of gratitude.  Thank God every day for all His blessings freely given to His children.  The book of Psalms repeatedly expresses this thought: “O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever” (Psa. 107:1).
     Difficult times are challenging times.  They challenge us to come back to basics.  Faith and hope in God must be part of those basic principles that sustain us, strengthen us and give us security.