No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Dave was a gambler, but not in the typical sense. He gambled not for money but pleasure, and paid a terrible price for it.
Early in his teenage years Dave became addicted to pornography, a habit he carried into his adult life and eventually into his marriage. Initially, the problem seemed to be minor, but soon what was once just casual use soon turned into an addiction. In time pornography was not enough, and Dave began to seek out extra-marital relationships. His job called for him to go out of town on a regular basis, which afforded him the opportunity to date as many as four women at a time, each with whom he had a sexual relationship.
It did not take long before Dave become arrogant about his affairs. Convinced his actions would not be discovered, he texted his girlfriends on a regular basis while keeping up a front at home giving the impression that he was the model husband. However, his aloofness toward his wife said otherwise, and with a little investigation Dave’s lifestyle was discovered. And thus began the unraveling of Dave’s life.
After his infidelity was discovered, Dave was asked to leave his home. His wife then took him to court where she sued for alimony and child support for their two children. Forced to live with friends, Dave paid over $3000 per month to his soon-to-be ex-wife. Then Dave lost his job, and with it his girlfriends. Depressed and alone, with neither money nor vice, Dave contemplated ending his life.
Instead of killing himself, though, Dave turned to a friend who shared the love of God with him and showed him 1 Corinthians 10:13. He explained to Dave that while God would never test us with more than we could possibly bear, we as sinful humans could in fact bring ourselves to a breaking point by the choices we make, as indicated by the examples of the Israelites in 1 Corinthians 10:1-12. Dave’s friend emphasized three points:
First, a person can be spiritual, go to church, even be active in the church, and still be alienated from God (vss. 1-5). Although Dave still attended church, his piety, apart from obedience to God’s commands, was nothing more than self-righteous behavior that had no real spiritual benefit.
Second, this self-righteousness leads to idolatry and self-indulgence, which in the end will always result in death (vss. 6-12). For some death is literally the end of life. For others death comes in the form of a broken marriage, divorce, separation from one’s children, and in Dave’s case the loss of a job. The truth is people often blame God for the consequences of their behavior. However, the fact remains, God will not stop someone bent on living a self-indulgent, idolatrous lifestyle. Dave wanted sex. It was his idol, and he would go to any length to get it regardless of the consequences. It was his choice and no one else’s.
Third, there is always a way out of a destructive lifestyle. In other words, there is always hope (vs. 13). That hope is found in the power of the Holy Spirit of God when we ask Jesus to be our Lord and Savior. When we turn away from our sinful lifestyle to live in obedience to the commands and principles of God’s word, we are literally walking away from death toward life. Like living in idolatry, this too is a choice. Unlike living in idolatry, God will walk with you, giving you his strength and power while on your journey. In so doing, life will have added purpose and meaning, a significance that goes beyond the gratification of a self-indulgent lifestyle.
The secret to preventing what happened to Dave from happening to you and me is found in verse 14; flee idolatry. Don’t gamble with your life. You and I have a choice; we can either set our sights on a sinful life of self-gratification, or we turn to God with our struggles and addictions. God will not make the choice for you. It is a choice we must make daily when faced with each and every temptation that comes our way.
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:13-15
woah that is deep