Bible Studies

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Temptation
Joseph was just a slave. Potiphar’s wife was the mistress of the house. “If I did as she commanded, how could this be wrong? This is quite an opportunity. No one else would know. What’s the harm?” If Joseph thought any of these things, he dismissed them quickly. Obedience to God was much too important to throw away at a time like this. For Joseph, not sinning against God was a sufficient reason to resist the temptation. The immediate consequences were not favorable: he was accused, he was condemned, and he was imprisoned. Obedience appeared to have made him much worse off than he already was. But God had much more for him, more than he could have imagined. In fact, the rich earthly rewards for Joseph, as described in succeeding chapters, were a mere shadow compared to the heavenly ones: “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12)
In a world filled with temptations, how is it possible to Just Say No? It’s important to remember what’s at stake:
• Your relationship with God. After Adam and Eve succumbed to temptation, they hid from God. The communion was broken and God expelled them from His presence.
• God’s reputation. You represent God on earth. God is dishonored when His followers surrender to sins such as the traditional Seven Deadly Sins: pride, avarice, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth.
• Your reason for being on earth. You are here to glorify God, and yielding to temptation and sin makes it difficult to carry out your mission.
• Rewards, both earthly and heavenly. Joseph didn’t know what riches were in store for him when he ran from Potiphar’s wife. He Just Said No.

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