Common To Man
1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
Paul is talking to the people of Corinth, and telling them everything they’ve done, and faced is common to man. He lists in prior versus through this chapter times when the Israelites fell prey to the same sin, and says that “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction,” (1COR10:11)
We are supposed to look at how the one before us acted, and behaved so that we have examples of what to do, and not to do. Their successes, and failures were written down for our instruction.
Isn’t that the entire Bible?
We read it, and see connection to the ancient history that feels so long ago, but also can see the same thing happening today. So to diligently study the scripture, and interpret it properly to find what God was to do then and now take time.
I know everything is our fast paced lives takes time in our culture. The wants are ever changing, and the needs are ever growing, but the need above all other needs is time.
We need more time with the wife, more time with the kids, more alone time for ourselves, and most time at work to afford the increasing prices of everything. Can I just recommend one thing to you readers, We Need More Time In The Word.
We need more time in the word because spending our time with the Lord will help us gain understanding of what God wants us to do. Time with Him in His word will help us prioritize where we need to spend our time. We will be more focused on the Kingdom of Heaven, and less time on the Kingdom of self.
Proverbs 1:7 says “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Do we as men, as heads of household do we really fear the Lord? Some may have knowledge of the Lord, but do you know Him so well that you fear Him? I be honest sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I’ll get in my head and think myself out of my reading time, or devotional time with my wife, or skip catechizing my kids, but if I think on it I know it’s wrong. I know I’m supposed to be catechizing my kids, I know I’m supposed to be leading my wife. I know if I choose not to do those things that I have failed in my duties as husband , and father and I will be held accountable for their lack of guidance. I believe every man feels it to. Deep down you know you’re not doing what you’re supposed to be doing. You know you’re failing your wife, and kids based on biblical standards.
But how do you know what the standards are? You them because Jesus Himself laid out an example, and taught you how. The scriptures haven’t changed in over 2000 years more than 1%, and those are chalked up to literally discrepancies. So the teaching and message is still there and the same.
Jesus Was Prophet, Priest, Protector, and Provider.
Charles Spurgeon says Priest, Prophet, and King, but in todays terminology a King Protects, and provides for his people.
So Jesus shows us the example boy living a sinless life. He teaches us throughout Gospel how to do it. He tells us of what happens if we don’t, and yet we still live day to day as if this is just some ancient book without eternal consequences.
The opening verse 1 Corinthians 10:13 lets us know right at the end a glimmer of hope. “With the temptation he will also provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
The temptation of time wasting is a struggle every man faces. God gives you a way out of it, but He lets you choose. I think he is seeing if you really want to be His follower.
So at the end of the day it is up to you to choose to spend time with God, or not.
Do you want to answer for these decisions? I know I don’t.