Tempted to Misuse (Matthew 4:5-7)

While Jesus was being tempted...

Matthew 4:5-7 ⁵ Then the devil took Jesus to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, ⁶ saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'" ⁷ Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

Luke 4:9-12 ⁹ Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, ¹⁰ for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,' ¹¹ and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'" ¹² Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

In yesterday's blog, Jesus was tempted to use his power to satisfy his basic human needs rather than waiting for God's direction.  It is an interesting moment in a Christian's life when one realizes that their needs - even their basic needs like food and water - are secondary to following Jesus. 

Seriously?  Yes!  Sounds cult-ish?  You bet!

Followers of Jesus are uniquely positioned in this world to minister to other's needs, because they aren't supposed to worry about their own needs.  We have a higher calling... to put others and God first.  But sadly, most of us, don't live this way.  Most of us misuse the calling (the skills, the talents, the desires, the resources) we have for our own good instead of for the good of others. We spend a lot of time worrying about ourselves - instead of taking care of those in need around us.

In today's scripture, Jesus is tempted with misusing his calling too.  Satan takes him to the most public place in Jerusalem... the top of the temple.  And suggests that Jesus show off his pedigree by throwing himself from the temple.  Nothing really wrong with Jesus making a statement about who he is.  But the Father isn't the one telling Jesus to jump - so Jesus isn't jumping.  What Satan says is true - the angels will protect Jesus, but Jesus doesn't take directions from Satan.  And he doesn't do frivolous feats that demonstrate his strength.  He will wait for God to speak and then he will act.  Jesus uses his power only when it serves God's purposes.  He doesn't use his position to make God act in ways that are not God's ways.

What skills, talents, and desires has God given you?  You can choose to use them in many different ways.  But which ways serve God's purposes?  It is so easy to use our skills to make ourselves look good - or to use them in ways that don't serve God.  But resist this!  Use them for God's purposes.

You may think that takes all the fun out of having desires and skills. Not at all.  Remember the words attributed to Eric Liddell, the Scottish Olympic runner in the movie Chariots of Fire?   He says, "I believe that God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. When I run, I feel His pleasure."  There is nothing more fulfilling and satisfying to use our power and skills for God!