Temptation and Trust

It has been said that humans are subject to three kinds of temptation: to shine, to whine and to recline. The first one--to shine--comprises all temptations to pride in its many forms, including vanity, resentment, unforgiveness of one’s enemies, arrogance, argumentativeness, refusal to apologize, and so on. The second--to whine--includes all temptations to negativism, such as complaint, discouragement, despair, weakening of faith because of God’s lack of answer to prayer, and so on. The third--to recline--epitomizes all temptations to sloth, lack of zeal for evangelizing others or for God’s glory, disinterestedness in virtue, and neglect of one’s countless responsibilities or duties (moral, professional, and so on).

Temptation is multifarious, mathematically equal to the number of possible failures or weaknesses that assail us faltering mortals. Temptation is present whenever a moral choice, or even a spiritual choice, is to be made. Hence, the choice may not always be a serious matter, involving a raw selection between good and evil. Quite often it will be a more subtle type of choice--that between a lower and a higher good, such as that between mediocrity and the “Be ye perfect” challenge of Jesus in Matthew 5:48. Such a subtle option could be a preference for “little with righteousness” (Prv 16:8) as against “complete and perfect fidelity in everything” (Ti 2:10).

The most common category of temptation is the choice between satisfaction with mediocrity, on the one hand, and, on the other, the pursuit of perfection in any aspect of life. The “if you wish to be perfect” option that Jesus offers (Mt 19:21) is often counterpointed by his reproach of the church in Sardis (“I have not found your works perfect in the sight of God” [Rv 3:2]) and of the church in Laodicea (“You are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot” [v. 15]).

The effort to “choose the better part,” like Mary in the house of Lazarus (Lk 1:42), is the best (though not the only) proof of love for God; that’s why the paycheck is sizeable: “Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (Jas 1:12, emphasis mine).

The trust component in this matter of temptation is to be found in trusting the Lord for the strength to cope successfully with any temptation, but also in trusting that your efforts will not be without the hundredfold reward. When that double indicator of trust is present in temptation, you can know that you are truly trusting in the Lord.

This excerpt is from the book Pathways of Trust, by John H. Hampsch,C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and tapes can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408.