The test of possessions and power may not be on your radar, yet everyone undergoes this trial. We must teach children to share; it does not come naturally. As adults, we may be more subtle, but we often act like small children regarding possessions and power.
The Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil. For forty days and nights, the Lord had fasted and was hungry when the devil tempted in time after time. When we are hungry and tired, we often give in to temptations that we would not otherwise. Our enemy did not play fair when he tempted Jesus, and he does not play fair against us.
Satan tests us daily in some aspect of our lives. As we grow in faith, our need for the Lord’s strength and guidance becomes more evident. As the Lord transforms us, what we thought was important at one time no longer entices us.
The Devil Tempts Jesus with the Kingdoms of the World
The devil does not give up on tempting Jesus and tries a third temptation. Matthew 4:8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” 10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” [1]
Satan desperately wanted Jesus to worship him because he wanted to be God himself and have all worship him. He offered Jesus the world’s kingdoms, but Jesus did not fall for this trap. For Jesus, this would mean dominion over the world without going to the cross and dying for our sins. Satan offered a shortcut, but Jesus would not fall for his lies and deceit. Again, Jesus rebuked satan with God’s word and won the battle in the wilderness.
What Jesus Teaches Us About Possessions and Power
Sometimes, we fall into temptation because we don’t ask the Lord for His guidance and direction. When we do, we soon discover a willingness to be led by the Holy Spirit. This will open doors to building God’s Kingdom in a way we may not have thought of.
The boy who gave his five small loaves and two small fish to Jesus saw how the Lord multiplied what he had. Is that not the same for us? When we let the Lord direct our lives, we can do more than we could imagine. Like Jesus, there are no shortcuts to being kingdom builders, but as we trust the Lord, we can be joyful as the Lord works through us.
To learn more about the test of possessions and power, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/jesus-is-tempted
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Mt 4:8–10). Tyndale House Publishers.